tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236887072011-12-29T10:26:26.364ZSeven DogDogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-16995847700122839742008-08-18T17:30:00.003Z2008-08-31T13:41:49.447Z2008-08-31T13:41:49.447ZAshes Hollow<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">W</span></strong>hen Briton actually gave way to a truly rare bit of sunshine earlier in the summer, a </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lads and boys camping trip was in order<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283241466231330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2XtImeiI/AAAAAAAABa8/3tJ0TjChmzM/s400/IMGP2510.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Half way up Ashes Hollow</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283253434827394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2YZuIwoI/AAAAAAAABbc/7GwEIkOA-hk/s400/IMGP2522.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The rolling hills nearing the top</span><br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283240373867154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2XpEKUpI/AAAAAAAABbE/2WzS0Rf_knU/s400/IMGP2515.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There is a glider station at the summit and many were out to play</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2mmvN25I/AAAAAAAABbk/I-57NxsJUt4/s1600-h/IMGP2526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283497447185298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2mmvN25I/AAAAAAAABbk/I-57NxsJUt4/s400/IMGP2526.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ashley sporting his rather fab optical instrument with a lens for each eye, for viewing distant objects</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2mkVLd2I/AAAAAAAABbs/7PCn178ileI/s1600-h/IMGP2532.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283496801105762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2mkVLd2I/AAAAAAAABbs/7PCn178ileI/s400/IMGP2532.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Not ANOTHER rest?</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283503148280306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2m7-dqfI/AAAAAAAABb8/8MLmBU2jFS0/s400/IMGP2538.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rich skillfully building a bridge to find a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocache">Geocache</a> at the top</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2m12D-II/AAAAAAAABb0/P4EEGnPqAK0/s1600-h/IMGP2537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283501502429314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2m12D-II/AAAAAAAABb0/P4EEGnPqAK0/s400/IMGP2537.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Luke (AKA Runtus Minimus) on the</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> precarious planks to the cache<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283248225236194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2YGUEtOI/AAAAAAAABbM/Ue24_dIe1VY/s400/IMGP2516.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eew Max - "Who fell ohhhver... who fell ohhhver!"</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2YPyRqnI/AAAAAAAABbU/Qx95INwRhAo/s1600-h/IMGP2520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283250767833714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2YPyRqnI/AAAAAAAABbU/Qx95INwRhAo/s400/IMGP2520.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Harry giving Max a sound beating with a large stick, much to their Dad's despair!</span><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-773a03a3fd3da2fc" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How to clean your child that has slipped over in the mud on his bum...<br /><em>Big Rich styleee!!!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>:0)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283506015592642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2nGqFYMI/AAAAAAAABcE/yQBOGO7gbec/s400/IMGP2541.JPG" border="0" /></strong></em>Once back at camp, it was Andy's pancake time...<br /><br /><br /><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283639808817506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2u5E3-WI/AAAAAAAABcM/VWD2k6xVM6I/s400/IMGP2544.JPG" border="0" /></strong>Followed by a late night cheese and red wine sesh.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235283643058035218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SKd2vFLjGhI/AAAAAAAABcU/6O-6ZH93aI0/s400/IMGP2546.JPG" border="0" />The red wine was courtesy of Mike, seen here proudly showing off the rather delicate bottle of Merlot he kindly blessed us with :]<br />He <em>even </em>served it to us in coffee mugs - Pure class<br /><br /><br /><strong>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</strong> Drivers who do not give enough room when passing cyclists and think it's OK to just squeeze past - GRRR<br /><em>arseholes!!!</em><br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 8/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><b><span style="color:#333333;">Today's Top Tip:</span></b><span style="color:#333333;"> <em>Motor Bikers and Sports Car Drivers:</em> Remember to give two or three hearty blips of your throttle before switching your engine off, when stopping at the pub. This will kindly remind patrons on the patio that you master a beast, likely to burst into life at any moment, of its own volition!</span></span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-1699584770012283974?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-36813088447420459102008-07-20T10:12:00.025Z2008-12-09T16:41:05.877Z2008-12-09T16:41:05.877Z"I Do"<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><strong>T</strong></span>his summer saw a trip to Weymouth to witness the lovely Kees and the Silver Fox tie the knot!</span><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040305026064706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSeVYtYUI/AAAAAAAABZE/ao83mPXR2bA/s400/2623204784_812085ae6b.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Great photo! <span style="font-size:78%;">[Shame I didn't take it:]</span><br />The wedding was very cool and took place in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_castle">Portland Castle</a></span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225102970132336978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SINLd7GTkVI/AAAAAAAABa0/OIcJLyW_XBA/s400/2622824146_00327bf6ec.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">An</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">dy, Luke and some dapper geezer drinking manly pink champagne</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040310460444402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSepoXbvI/AAAAAAAABZU/tvGgZRLM1FA/s400/IMGP3100.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I think I sit here? :)<br /><br />The rest of the evening consisted of drinking far too much champagne, white wine and beer<br /><br />***<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The next day was spent site seeing</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040458358863922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSnQmGODI/AAAAAAAABZk/my_F6VLh3ss/s400/IMGP3114.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chisel Beach</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040304305141330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSeSs09lI/AAAAAAAABZM/zaMhRfmalLs/s400/Copy+of+IMGP3151.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What trip to the seaside would be complete without a go on a pedlo?<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040464202140994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSnmXPjUI/AAAAAAAABZs/fEkuJael72U/s400/IMGP3117.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A trip to Portland Bill was also in order.<br />A great little place and so scenic on a nice day.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Does anyone remember the old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Portland_Bill">Portland Bill animation series</a></span>?<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225041006419800018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMTHKSAb9I/AAAAAAAABak/rg5qR-RNtRg/s400/IMGP3137.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Portland Bill lighthouse.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040467465821522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSnyhXXVI/AAAAAAAABZ8/3ar1YyQbGXk/s400/IMGP3128.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The lighthouse lens</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225041008394359986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMTHRox1LI/AAAAAAAABas/j7qfjnIaYcI/s400/IMGP3132.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Amazingly, the ever rotating lens floats on 3/4 of a ton of Mercury!!!</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040463360571506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSnjOmOHI/AAAAAAAABZ0/pa_aSE-ydPU/s400/IMGP3125.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">View from the top</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225041005319942034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMTHGLx75I/AAAAAAAABaU/7bg42tKDfmE/s400/IMGP3140.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was also veteran's awareness week</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225040309581824146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMSemW4wJI/AAAAAAAABZc/zkfonoodID8/s400/IMGP3113.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225041007694835906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SIMTHPB_8MI/AAAAAAAABac/a5QIe6tsYy4/s400/IMGP3138c.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I managed to capture this moving shot of a young boy reading the names on a WWI/WWII memorial.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Being itchy all day!?!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 4/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Today's Top Tip:</strong> Stained clothes? White wine dabbed onto a red wine stain will clean it up quickly. Similarly, fat splashes<br />on clothes can be easily removed by rubbing salad onto the affected area!</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-3681308844742045910?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-74778810003041721562008-07-07T08:07:00.006Z2008-12-09T16:41:10.826Z2008-12-09T16:41:10.826ZOver The Hill<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;">F</span></strong>our of us electric bike aficionados <span style="font-size:78%;">(including one of Pink Floyd, almost*)</span> took to the roads of Wales and cycled out to the coast with two full batteries each and very little else.<br /><br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538528489275314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_sLpQf7I/AAAAAAAABR8/_m_5H0Khf9Q/s400/IMGP3015.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First port of call... The Tregaron pass<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538537011196802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_srZCs4I/AAAAAAAABSE/vOHp2ZHMO1c/s400/IMGP3023.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The last thing you want to see is a 25% hill!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209539097419837346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwANTE376I/AAAAAAAABT8/UiRx1jpBX0k/s400/IMGP3080.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of the most unforgiving hills I've ever seen, but the descent down the other side was much more fun, although my disk breaks got so hot they actually started to warp and distort! Scary :[]</span><br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538768021357042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_6H-KAfI/AAAAAAAABSs/QdK4AmuGfRI/s400/IMGP3050.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After the pass and hills, the country roads were just great</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAFqtV_II/AAAAAAAABTM/KZdbyIBHyHw/s1600-h/IMGP3060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538966324640898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAFqtV_II/AAAAAAAABTM/KZdbyIBHyHw/s400/IMGP3060.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pondering over directions.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">We had many a direction dispute :0)</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538973759352562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAGGZ6rvI/AAAAAAAABTU/_W_OARS3H2g/s400/IMGP3062.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We passed many entertaining place names too like Ffffffffffffarmers<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538541271685986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_s7Q0m2I/AAAAAAAABSM/nDnBmz_SSBU/s400/IMGP3026.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">YAY!!! Our half-way stop and battery top-up point.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538785676790322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_7JviijI/AAAAAAAABTE/lYDek3Sdieo/s400/IMGP3057.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Erm Pete. I know you like biking, but come on now, give it a rest! :]<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538764029410450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_55GZvJI/AAAAAAAABSk/dehFwObc1FY/s400/IMGP3045.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After 45 miles we finally reached the coast - New Quay.<br /><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538547798542130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_tTk8hzI/AAAAAAAABSc/-mgKWI3AgIc/s400/IMGP3040.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We had quite a sense of achievement.<br />From left to right...<br />Phil - Bike: Ezee Forza<br />Nicola - Bike: Ezee Sprint<br />Pete - Bike: Ezee Cadence<br />Andy - Bike: Kalkhoff Agattu</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538545702588962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEv_tLxO0iI/AAAAAAAABSU/0czsZSbhfhw/s400/IMGP3036.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> We pulled up outside the first pub we came across.<br />It was like the Hell's Angels had arrived in town, except our bikes don't roar, they only quietly hum :]<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAGwRsIOI/AAAAAAAABTs/KMCbqLYHHSQ/s1600-h/IMGP3072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538984999133410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAGwRsIOI/AAAAAAAABTs/KMCbqLYHHSQ/s400/IMGP3072.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On the way back we stumbled upon a rather impressive dam</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538982824422178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAGoLMqyI/AAAAAAAABTk/se1De36KX-Q/s400/IMGP3070.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The second most remote pub I've ever visited.<br />No one believed the 'Public House' logo on the map, but there it was AND it was open.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209538973752894450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAGGYYI_I/AAAAAAAABTc/vG1oreDgLZo/s400/IMGP3069.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It would have been rude not to!<br />A swift half for me and tea for the others.<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209539090509236578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SEwAM5VQiWI/AAAAAAAABT0/65AwtQrYKmg/s400/IMGP3075.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The final leg of the tour - one amazing, long and twisty downhill.<br />No batteries needed for this one.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />After completing the 55 mile return journey home, we were all ready for a sit down, a drink and some good food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><em>[*Nicola is the cousin of one of Pink Floyd]</em></span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Only getting 4 hours sleep, as I didn't fall asleep until 1am and then my darling of a neighbour woke me at 5:05am with his big bore exhaust! GRRRz<span style="font-size:85%;">z</span><span style="font-size:78%;">z</span><br /><b></b><br /></span><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;">Top Tip:</span></b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;"> Save electricity by shortening the cables to all your household electrical appliances.<br />Also, never leave an empty socket switched on; you'll leak precious electricity into the air, costing a small fortune over time!</span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-7477881000304172156?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-21105556270738831572008-06-23T09:30:00.006Z2008-12-09T16:41:17.741Z2008-12-09T16:41:17.741ZVolcanoes<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"><strong>L</strong></span>ast month, a group of us decided to go on a lil' drive...<br />Well actually, a 12 hour 750 mile drive down the middle of France for a few days.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900105505768770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-hYMLBUI/AAAAAAAABUs/iVE49VQshg0/s400/IMGP2686.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First port of call: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel">Euro Tunnel</a>, to get us from England into France.<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900103709220066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-hRf13OI/AAAAAAAABU0/4av3ra-VRL4/s400/IMGP2687.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Look! A train you can drive into... a train you <em>drive</em> into!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How cool is that.<br /><br /><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901236124025986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_jMEkhII/AAAAAAAABYk/OEgDeDfAxIM/s400/IMGP2981.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A slightly knackered looking me 20,000 leagues under the sea.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900349322256818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-vkejYbI/AAAAAAAABVU/uRwTwoKFo1E/s400/IMGP2718.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We then had a looooooong drive straight down the middle of France with very few navigational errors... remarkable!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901229416647858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_izFaDLI/AAAAAAAABYc/IgwXhIjGvKg/s400/IMGP2980.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">We passed some interesting places along the way like the Somme, for any of you interested in World War 1 like me.<br />I was quite impressed anyhow :]<br /><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900107575530706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-hf5pFNI/AAAAAAAABU8/bzGyiC3BE3w/s400/IMGP2702.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Eventually </em>we reach the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auvergne_%28region%29">Auvergne</a> region.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900882092160994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_OlMy9-I/AAAAAAAABXM/9sesZIpm1SY/s400/IMGP2870.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our home for a week was a lovely traditional French town called La Bourboule.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900111800911394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-hvpDRiI/AAAAAAAABVE/CPjtYsmfhac/s400/IMGP2716.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The centre of La Bourboule.</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900349646075618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-vlrwduI/AAAAAAAABVc/Md8lJ2hPYLE/s400/IMGP2724.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The architecture was fab.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900352105914626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-vu2OoQI/AAAAAAAABVk/GunkT6979uw/s400/IMGP2739.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">An old ornate bridge.<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214689160984653970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SF5MKc6R8JI/AAAAAAAABYs/BBj8fBdUxlY/s400/IMGP2717.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A little boulevard running up town.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900354667754754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-v4ZBNQI/AAAAAAAABVs/mmCVfUmSKIo/s400/IMGP2744.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All the buildings had so much character and history.<br />It was like looking at a movie set at times.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900353344759890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-vzdl6FI/AAAAAAAABV0/dzl-eZrCjaY/s400/IMGP2750.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road_%28album%29">Abby Road</a> stylee, my fab four companions! :]<br /><em>Andy, Dave, John and Roy... NOT the Beatles</em></span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900547510413330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-7GySqBI/AAAAAAAABV8/c80lUx5fNCE/s400/IMGP2753.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">THIS, my friends, is the municipal campsite's toilets!<br />They were something to be desired, shall we say.<br />It took a bit of getting used to using these 'squatters' or 'stoopers'!!!<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901091137617234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_av9HfVI/AAAAAAAABYE/wK-Q9pj_H5s/s400/IMGP2941.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On the subject of none-desirable things, a few menu items raised an eye brow or two, like this <em>tripe and chips!</em> Mmm yummy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One evening we spotted a fish restaurant, so went in and gave it a go, only to discover there wasn't much fish on the menu... The sign outside said "piscine" meaning swimming pool and not fish at all!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214692534349444706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SF5POzrHtmI/AAAAAAAABY0/E7kGdOWVISg/s400/IMGP2949.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I found this hound at a cafe.<br />Could this dog look <em>anymore</em> French? :0)</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900552417343170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-7ZEMdsI/AAAAAAAABWE/kw3gNmRG2HM/s400/IMGP2756.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First expedition was to see this local waterfall.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900551419786722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-7VWW9eI/AAAAAAAABWM/W6GrtM9VBUM/s400/IMGP2760.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You could even walk behind it</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900553699165922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-7d1zhuI/AAAAAAAABWU/IvrwpRsGUeI/s400/IMGP2770.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...and there's only one thing to do on a warm day of course...</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900554492345506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt-7gy6fKI/AAAAAAAABWc/jdqGhwmIyac/s400/IMGP2772.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now that was refreshing!<br />It felt like I was being beaten with cold stones, but it cooled me off :]</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900717090669250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_E-hYAsI/AAAAAAAABWk/MHFshGmFu9s/s400/IMGP2784.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the top of the falls, we looked over the next days adventure.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>***<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On the way back down from the falls we spotted a dry luge run, so we just <em>had </em>to give it a go.</span><br /></span><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-40cbc99befeebfd8" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Come with me on a virtual luge run!<br /><br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900715648729266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_E5JlwLI/AAAAAAAABWs/Akgly38dlAE/s400/IMGP2794.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Later on in town we spotted this most amusing 'Fanny Feeling' sign on a shop window!<br />Now what service were they offering here exactly?<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Yes, I did enquired about any job vacancies :]</span></span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213899503657937170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt9-WId6RI/AAAAAAAABUU/siP1cARkods/s400/DSC00971.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So the next day was to ascend France's highest mountain<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(that's not part of the Alps)<br /></span>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy_de_sancy">Puy de Sancy</a><br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900716821405698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_E9hLYAI/AAAAAAAABW0/XbjGjvwB9dk/s400/IMGP2795.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The last snow-capped slog up to the 6,188 feet peak!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900719583948850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_FHz0cDI/AAAAAAAABW8/BJ9VMfwv26M/s400/IMGP2799.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once I got my breath back, the view was stunning</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900883907948642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_Or9tsGI/AAAAAAAABXE/Hzovp4Mtx8Q/s400/IMGP2847.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our walk started out from the car at point A.<br /><em>Some </em>of us (not me) got a cable car up to the peak [see blue line] while others walked up.<br />We then followed a track along many other peaks and eventually back into town at point B, where <em>some</em> of us (not me) went to the bar instead leaving me and Andy to walk several miles back up to the car. Pffft :0]<br /><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901083555832434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_aTteonI/AAAAAAAABX8/xYp5T0kInDw/s400/IMGP2935.JPG" border="0" /> Th<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e next day was out and about and looking for some of the old volcanoes<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213899500636554114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt9-K4HQ4I/AAAAAAAABUE/PwzmpWPd5HQ/s400/auvergne+097.JPG" border="0" /> </p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A few morning press-ups :]</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900882128314738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_OlVaoXI/AAAAAAAABXU/poMQvXCU3Wk/s400/IMGP2893.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking into the first volcano we found.<br />Currently inactive, but still worrying!</span><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-61ad6b61f0bc0333" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Andy's panorama clip from inside the volcano!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900885512866050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_Ox8WyQI/AAAAAAAABXk/1CqYmY56T6M/s400/IMGP2904.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When we sat to eat lunch, a rather bright green spider was spotted climbing onto our bags.<br />I have no idea whether it's dangerous, but I stayed well clear :[]</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901083448807570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_aTT9kJI/AAAAAAAABXs/TRNIbVPjxjk/s400/IMGP2906.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our second volcano to ascend</span><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213899507498865858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt9-kcN1MI/AAAAAAAABUc/BnNAb89CuNI/s400/DSC00996.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking out into another old volcano</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213900887739676706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_O6PROCI/AAAAAAAABXc/MJ0-qqfsqMc/s400/IMGP2901.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A little lizard</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213899510221606658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt9-ulXjwI/AAAAAAAABUk/TmHOWGLUf2w/s400/DSC01002.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The area's largest volcano, the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy-de-D%C3%B4me_%28mountain%29"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Puy de Dome</span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901082577973314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_aQEVsEI/AAAAAAAABX0/YR-3Eau5SqI/s400/IMGP2925.JPG" border="0" />Storms started to build quickly so we headed back to the car... Just in time too, as one of the most violent thunderstorms I've ever witnessed erupted soon after.<br /><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213899503077387474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt9-T-DbNI/AAAAAAAABUM/R-z0X4XgGjM/s400/auvergne+112.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The last day was spent sight seeing some more local villages.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213901232213504530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SFt_i9gOshI/AAAAAAAABYU/0ftrCuOgSM8/s400/IMGP2971.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Driving back was a long haul and we drove between two storms and some evil looking clouds.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Fin</em></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Hayfever<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em> </em>Grrr</span><em> *snuffle*</em></span><br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 6.7/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;"><b>Today's Top Tip<span style="font-family:courier new;">:</span></b></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Daily Mail editors: Underline important words in your headlines just to make sure that your readers are clear about what it is you want them to think!!!</span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-2110555627073883157?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-11257818337056528672008-04-16T17:08:00.037Z2011-01-19T21:20:56.838Z2011-01-19T21:20:56.838ZElectric Bike...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Earlier this year I indulged in some lavish spending and treated myself to an electrically assisted bike!<br /><br /><em>"Wow, how cool!"</em> I hear you say:<br />Yes, I think so too, and I can't convey enough how brilliant these machines really are.<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">OK, I won't bore you with the technical details, but now battery and motor technology has come on a lot, it's viable to use electric bikes in all seriousness, rather than it just be a gimmick or toy...<br />These beasts really have some serious torque now!<br /></span><br />I purchased one of these beauties:<br /><a href="http://www.tourdepresteigne.co.uk/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189920482112995810" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SAZNLlzegeI/AAAAAAAABRk/jnDN5jSGhw4/s400/forza1200blog.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.onbike.co.uk/ezee-electric-bikes/ezee-forza.html">An 'Ezee' Forza</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"How fast and how far can you go?" </em>I hear you say:<br />They are limited to 15mph (24kmph) by law, so it will only assist you up to this speed and then it's all over to your legs if you want to go any faster.<br />You can get up to 30 miles range out of a single battery charge, but it's very variable depending on how much effort you put in yourself and how many hills you tackle.<br />Due to the weight and gearing of these bikes, it's not really possible to use them without battery assistance, unless it's along the flat, like alongside a canal, and then you can fly along without assistance, greatly extending your range.<br /><br /><em>"So how much are these bikes?"</em> I hear you say:<br />As with all things, you get what you pay for; so you can pay a couple of hundred quid for a cheaper model, that will only give slight assistance, or you can pay up into thousands for a quality model!<br />Various second-hand electric bikes appear on eBay quite regularly.<br /><br /></span></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I got into such technology when meeting the people behind this:<br /><p></p><a href="http://www.tourdepresteigne.co.uk/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189920490702930418" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/SAZNMFzegfI/AAAAAAAABRs/ARkBs6IC3bo/s400/TdP+Flyer+08blog.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Tour de Presteigne is the UK's premier electric bike rally and meeting, along with a whole host of other eco-friendly machines.<br /><br />I volunteered myself to write a website for them with only a few weeks to go before the event, so please go and visit <a href="http://www.tourdepresteigne.co.uk/">http://www.tourdepresteigne.co.uk/</a> and I would be really grateful if you guys could put a link to it on your site, if only temporarily, to get our Google position up higher in a short a time as possible :0) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I'm going to be attending the two-day event on Saturday 17th May & Sunday 18th May - If anyone wants to come along, you're more than welcome and you don't have to take part or own an electric bike, the whole weekend is mainly about greener transport and demonstrating the latest technologies.<br />See the INFO page on the website for a full listing on what's on!<br /><br />Be there or be... square :]<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Injustices in the world!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 8/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Drivers: Save money and the environment by putting much larger wheels on the back of your car - That way you will always be going downhill, thereby saving on fuel!<br /><br />take a look at <a href="http://www.onbike.co.uk">www.onbike.co.uk</a><br /></span></span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-1125781833705652867?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-30817777490553202932008-03-27T21:46:00.008Z2008-12-09T16:41:24.896Z2008-12-09T16:41:24.896ZFinland Pt.3<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>I</strong></span>n this third and final instalment <span style="font-size:85%;">(sniff)</span>, I set out on two last adventures before returning home from Finland.<br /><br />Reindeer are commonplace in the arctic circle, both roaming free and in 'use', kind of like a combination of a cow and a horse... and no, not like a c<em>orse</em> or a <em>how</em> :]</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182356676496557218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-tt8KHzhKI/AAAAAAAABQo/vU0nipIMSFY/s400/IMG_6280.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We visited a local reindeer farm, where they told us all about the lives of their reindeer and then you're told to go and fetch one out of the pen.<br /><br /><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182356332899173490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-ttoKHzhHI/AAAAAAAABQQ/oB5-xBa-YJk/s400/IMG_6268.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Did you know reindeer shed their antlers every year?<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182356337194140802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-ttoaHzhII/AAAAAAAABQY/AM0c8LE4zIE/s400/IMG_6286.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">White reindeer are believed to be reincarnated people and are kind of sacred up here.<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695288657183746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WG6qHzhAI/AAAAAAAABPI/uVjiUI1RifQ/s400/IMGP2330.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They had a new stag that was very lively and slightly demonic looking.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182356337194140818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-ttoaHzhJI/AAAAAAAABQg/PRCRJaNuI0M/s400/IMG_6292.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next we had to climb inside a sleigh and they hooked up a reindeer to it, as you do - and guess which one we got??? Yes, the demonic competitive stag :[]</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694910700061490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGkqHzgzI/AAAAAAAABNg/S1K96HXd1Jk/s400/IMG_6298.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">There was a group of five of us racing across a frozen lake and all the reindeer were jostling for pole position, but not of them could take our lead position :)<br /></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-1407bc157c0db3c7" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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</p></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It got very hairy at times, in both senses of the word - with antlers and hooves akimbo, you really had to tuck in and keep out of the way.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oddly enough, these reindeer just know were to go, taking us all the way round the lake and safely back again without guidance.<br />Clever stuff!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182363015868286130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-tztKHzhLI/AAAAAAAABQw/FsIxPI2fgrg/s400/IMG_6303.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">LOOOSERS! LOOOSERS!<br />Our following.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695288657183762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WG6qHzhBI/AAAAAAAABPQ/lzks2k9j_2U/s400/IMGP2331.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After our triumphant victory, it was back for hot drinks and biscuits around a much welcome open fire.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next up was a 90km (56mile) snowmobile trek to the snow village and Ice hotel!<br /><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695103973589954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGv6Hzg8I/AAAAAAAABOo/Xar-yWEuuDI/s400/IMGP2210.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span>660cc snowmobile *drool*<br />Not much finesse about these beasts, but raw power :)<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695280067249106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WG6KHzg9I/AAAAAAAABOw/dwmzaB2Sqz8/s400/IMGP2216.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Opening them up on the straights was seriously good fun.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695280067249122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WG6KHzg-I/AAAAAAAABO4/W--PjqJ7bzw/s400/IMGP2220.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Riding time split 50/50, as a pillion passenger it was very bumpy on the back, but I did notice this cool fisheye style reflection in Andy's skid-lid.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-94af5d22374c0bb" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Brum, brum - so this is how it was for 007?</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695284362216434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WG6aHzg_I/AAAAAAAABPA/EJCcLs47mkA/s400/IMGP2230.JPG" border="0" />There are proper paths for snowmobiles stretching for miles and even proper road signs.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695099678622642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGvqHzg7I/AAAAAAAABOg/rPpk6GSFuaw/s400/IMGP2209.JPG" border="0" />After an hour so, we eventually arrived at the <a href="http://www.snowvillage.fi/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Snowvillage</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695099678622626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGvqHzg6I/AAAAAAAABOY/DNWmp6UeZHY/s400/IMGP2197.JPG" border="0" />Inside was remarkably large.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695095383655298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGvaHzg4I/AAAAAAAABOI/cIw5nK93x6c/s400/IMGP2196.JPG" border="0" /> There were 26 bedrooms, each one uniquely <em>carved</em>!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694914995028818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGk6Hzg1I/AAAAAAAABNw/DmM6dY_X6Nc/s400/IMGP2176.JPG" border="0" /> And yes, the beds <em>are </em>made of ice!!!<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694726016467682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGZ6HzguI/AAAAAAAABM4/BK3lUVpOZzs/s400/DSC00914.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The mattresses are not ice, of course, and pretty comfy too :}<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694919289996146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGlKHzg3I/AAAAAAAABOA/zUpqeokqWEw/s400/IMGP2195.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The whole place was filled with amazing ice sculptures, like this mammoth.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694738901369602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGaqHzgwI/AAAAAAAABNI/QFbYVa438H8/s400/DSC00920.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The restaurant with it solid ice tables!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182366975828133058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-t3TqHzhMI/AAAAAAAABQ4/b_AZuEWGRXg/s400/DSC00917.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Finlandia vodka bar with its huge bottle sculpture.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180694914995028834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGk6Hzg2I/AAAAAAAABN4/Is76-s8gSx8/s400/IMGP2187.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even the glasses are made of ice!!!<br />No need for... ice.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180695095383655314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-WGvaHzg5I/AAAAAAAABOQ/3zrzX1a9SAQ/s400/IMGP2204.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I spotted this on the way out!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now that's health and safety going a little too far.<br /></span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>*** </strong></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />...and a post of this length just wouldn't be complete without something for fans of my bottom...<br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182346600503280738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-tkxqHzhGI/AAAAAAAABQI/Ic7vS5lIFAU/s400/IMG_5985.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="http://osbasso.blogspot.com/2005/05/guidelines-for-half-nekkid-thursday.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182741685954905298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R-zMGqHzhNI/AAAAAAAABRA/0zTsumxWnO4/s400/HNT.gif" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="center">Easily ranking in the top 10 'coldest things I've ever done' - I took this shot of my bum and the aurora in sub -20c temperature! Cold,<em> butt</em> worth it :0)<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>(Ahh, see what I did there)</em></span><br /><br /><br /></span></p><br /><p></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The last evening consisted of a plenty of beer and a Finnish karaoke bar - probably one of the most surreal evenings I've ever experienced!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>[FINN]</em><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Learning my car has almost halved in value in the two years I've owned it! Bummer :'[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 6.3/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#333333;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Feeling cold indoors this winter?<br />Simply pop outside for a few minutes without your clothes on.<br />When you come back inside you will really "feel the benefit".</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-3081777749055320293?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-26503780712720443662008-03-16T12:21:00.034Z2008-12-09T16:41:35.070Z2008-12-09T16:41:35.070ZFinland Pt.2<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xcEpBXa2I/AAAAAAAABMg/C2rbcYaYKms/s1600-h/IMGP2300.JPG"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A trip to Lapland just wouldn't be complete without visiting some huskies, s</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">o I partook in a 15km husky sledding excursion, across a vast frozen lake.<br /><br />The husky farm was home to no fewer than 115 dogs of mixed breeds - As you can imagine, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven :]<br /><br /><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113510505671234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xazZBXakI/AAAAAAAABKQ/tsCa4pQPD5I/s400/IMG_6120.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The hounds are very lively and bark excitedly when they know they are about to go on a run.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113759613774514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbB5BXarI/AAAAAAAABLI/vIjo1687KlA/s400/IMG_6187.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">A gorgeous Greenland dog.<br /><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113519095605858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xaz5BXamI/AAAAAAAABKg/bPmpdB2XDeU/s400/IMG_6124.JPG" border="0" />An Alaskan husky with piercing blue eyes.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113506210703906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xazJBXaiI/AAAAAAAABKA/ILYiWX3IAEU/s400/IMG_6073.JPG" border="0" />Our team of huskies.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114704506579778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xb45BXa0I/AAAAAAAABMQ/2nhJGzrv-WA/s400/IMGP2245.jpg" border="0" />And they're off...<br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-dc762c0ef0d71e2" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br />A very civilised form of transport.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113746728872578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbBJBXaoI/AAAAAAAABKw/_QPHMkn789c/s400/IMG_6140.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">An out of breath Malamute came and rested its head in my lap!<br /><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113514800638546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xazpBXalI/AAAAAAAABKY/b3KB7pHoG9E/s400/IMG_6121.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The dogs get pretty hot and roll in the snow afterwards.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114004426910402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbQJBXasI/AAAAAAAABLQ/dTLWdraf72o/s400/IMG_6193.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I crouched down by Luppo here and she walked over and placed her paw on me.</span><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114004426910418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbQJBXatI/AAAAAAAABLY/mveIJ9BEtBw/s400/IMG_6198.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I wanted to take her with me :[</span><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114008721877746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbQZBXavI/AAAAAAAABLo/L5au-H4NHp4/s400/IMG_6214.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The farm had 3 new arrivals 6-weeks ago.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114004426910434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbQJBXauI/AAAAAAAABLg/ohn_bRO4LiI/s400/IMG_6211.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Blue eyed puppy.<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113746728872562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbBJBXanI/AAAAAAAABKo/hNr4BiWIH_U/s400/IMG_6133.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Pant<br /></em></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113755318807186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbBpBXapI/AAAAAAAABK4/XMug90pHHCM/s400/IMG_6156.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Shnoz to shnoz.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178113755318807202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbBpBXaqI/AAAAAAAABLA/gbnQNqBdmKU/s400/IMG_6161.JPG" border="0" />A beautiful bi-eyed Siberian husky.<br /><br /><br />I got howled at...<br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-b8f9701135fd078a" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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</p></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Probably the most camp clapping I've ever seen too :]<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /><br />On one of the evenings, we went on a Lappish night.<br />Having no idea what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the fun we all had!<br /></span></div><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xazZBXajI/AAAAAAAABKI/3rD3wbvgM9o/s1600-h/IMG_6092.JPG"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114700211612450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xb4pBXayI/AAAAAAAABMA/eKqMmdJQQfU/s400/IMG_6246.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">A fantastic open fire in the middle of the hut.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114008721877762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xbQZBXawI/AAAAAAAABLw/GH8LYlYPXMo/s400/IMG_6235.JPG" border="0" />Our entertaining host for the evening.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114704506579794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xb45BXa1I/AAAAAAAABMY/mtkPAvr4S90/s400/IMGP2300.JPG" border="0" />Drinking black wine... Bleh, eww, ugh :[]<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114691621677842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xb4JBXaxI/AAAAAAAABL4/FGCM2qfsXRc/s400/IMG_6239.JPG" border="0" />Ah, I was <span style="font-size:78%;">(un)</span>lucky enough to be picked out and had to play this drum for a whole song!<br />...and I <em>genuinely</em> fear being picked out of an audience, bah...<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114910665010034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xcE5BXa3I/AAAAAAAABMo/fPKkHFDX5KM/s400/IMGP2308.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">At the end of the night, we all had to kneel on the floor and receive a reindeer blessing.<br />Basically being made to make a noise like rutting reindeer while being drawn on with charcoal from the fire.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114910665010050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xcE5BXa4I/AAAAAAAABMw/DpiVDHzjJe4/s400/IMGP2313.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Looking goood!!!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178114700211612466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R9xb4pBXazI/AAAAAAAABMI/LqlwrT-OApI/s400/IMG_6253.JPG" border="0" />When we all left the Lappish night, the northern lights had come out to play!<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's it for the penultimate episode of Finland folks.<br /></span></p><p></p><p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Still having a hangover two days after a night out :(<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3/10<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#333333;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Dog owner / sci-fi fans: Four empty kitchen roll tubes covered in tin foil and then pushed over your dog's legs make for a futuristic 'space-dog'.<br />For a really space age look, slip a fifth tube onto your pet's tail!</span></span><br /></p><p align="center"></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-2650378071272044366?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-18300342506722619632008-03-05T11:03:00.021Z2008-12-09T16:41:40.360Z2008-12-09T16:41:40.360ZFinland Pt.1<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;">L</span></strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">ast week, a friend and I embarked upon some amazing adventures in a place called Levi in Lapland - North Finland in the Arctic Circle.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173927248721479474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R817a4nCBzI/AAAAAAAABHs/WVgrGpoY7pI/s400/finland_in_world_main_en.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">I was at the top of the 'F' of Finland.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174220584502063026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R86GNRjCb7I/AAAAAAAABIU/i4npRpTaKxI/s400/IMGP2049.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Flew out on an Airbus A321.<br />35,000ft at 500mph!<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174211199998521250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R859rBjCb6I/AAAAAAAABIM/ZioXUs8ocv4/s400/IMGP2148.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Arriving at the hotel<span style="font-size:85%;">(li)</span> is comforting in this very different land.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173868338950047282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F14nCBjI/AAAAAAAABFs/ZXfVcXwNOd8/s400/IMGP2323.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong>-21'c!</strong> <span style="font-size:78%;">(-6'F)</span><br />The temperature in Lapland rarely ever goes above freezing in the winter months... Brrr<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173920492737922850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R811RonCByI/AAAAAAAABHk/T6iVksTQ3Ao/s400/IMGP2051.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The language barrier was a little problematic at times.<br />3 house-points to whoever can decipher this catchy little headline!<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173919702463940370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R810jonCBxI/AAAAAAAABHc/t7uL7qrPRTQ/s400/IMGP2103.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Levi town centre.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173916386749187746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81xionCBqI/AAAAAAAABGk/L6-JzDIku8M/s400/IMGP2086.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Time to hit the slopes and continue learning snowboarding.<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173872827190871682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81J7InCBoI/AAAAAAAABGU/kRlhcIy0xOY/s400/IMGP2119.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Extra balance is provided from the ears... honestly :]<br /><br /><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173958501302693778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R82X2BjCb5I/AAAAAAAABIE/BG79XWbmQKE/s400/IMGP2288.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Me boardin' buddy Andy.<br />We talk the talk far better than we board... erm... the board?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Warning!!!</span> Extreme crash footage follows.<br />NOT for the faint-hearted!</strong></span><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-dbfcbcd4a9014589" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I said "hit the slopes" I meant it!<br />Serves me right for such temerarious behaviour :)</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173916391044155058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81xi4nCBrI/AAAAAAAABGs/3_qFZmyoIrw/s400/IMGP2108.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A very frozen lamp-post up top.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173916738936506098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81x3InCBvI/AAAAAAAABHM/nkC5QyT-Mzo/s400/IMGP2294.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A beautifully barren wasteland of ice, snow and trees.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173918821995644674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81zwYnCBwI/AAAAAAAABHU/go3PIQAkflE/s400/IMGP2140.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The main north slopes back down into Levi town.</span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173916408224024274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81xj4nCBtI/AAAAAAAABG8/RWCjwxTVMj0/s400/IMGP2123.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The temperature really plummets at sunset.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173868343245014594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F2InCBkI/AAAAAAAABF0/vCnNvtMvrV4/s400/IMGP2343.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Reindeer roaming free on the fell.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173868506453771890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F_onCBnI/AAAAAAAABGM/mZ33H0EkJcU/s400/IMGP2373.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are many of these little huts called Kotas dotted around the hill.<br />Inside there's always a fire burning to warm up by.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173868343245014610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F2InCBlI/AAAAAAAABF8/4fiLSfkFnWU/s400/IMGP2368.jpg" border="0" /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F1YnCBiI/AAAAAAAABFk/_reWodp5_mM/s1600-h/IMGP2285.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>This</em>, believe it or not, is a bar!!!<br />Much to my surprise (and in a Tardis style) I opened the door to see a handful of people merrily drinking beer and even a waitress serving behind a little bar!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F2YnCBmI/AAAAAAAABGE/49zPYl7Hmmw/s1600-h/IMGP2370.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173868347539981922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81F2YnCBmI/AAAAAAAABGE/49zPYl7Hmmw/s400/IMGP2370.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Extreme public toilets :0)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-13bcd56502389718" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By the end of the week, I was riding with the aplomb of a pro boarder... Almost!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Probably one</span> <span style="color:#33ff33;">of the most breathtaking</span> <span style="color:#66ff99;">experiences of my life!</span></strong><span style="color:#66ff99;"><br /></span>Witnessing the northern lights - The aurora borealis!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173866947380643250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81Ek4nCBbI/AAAAAAAABEw/10XY88cgfsI/s400/IMG_5997.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Priceless</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173866925905806722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81EjonCBYI/AAAAAAAABEY/62_GT6tXQ9Q/s400/IMG_5970.jpg" border="0" />The aurora continually changes shape and size and silently dances around the whole sky<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E9onCBdI/AAAAAAAABE8/52Q-OAc_AnU/s1600-h/IMG_6006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173867372582405586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E9onCBdI/AAAAAAAABE8/52Q-OAc_AnU/s400/IMG_6006.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The aurora streaking across the top of the drag lifts</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E94nCBeI/AAAAAAAABFE/N3eo4i0UKmg/s1600-h/IMG_6013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173867376877372898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E94nCBeI/AAAAAAAABFE/N3eo4i0UKmg/s400/IMG_6013.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the top<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E-onCBgI/AAAAAAAABFU/f8h06-tEdEE/s1600-h/IMG_6040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173867389762274818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E-onCBgI/AAAAAAAABFU/f8h06-tEdEE/s400/IMG_6040.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Against frozen trees</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173867381172340210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E-InCBfI/AAAAAAAABFM/R20n48Vaou0/s400/IMG_6017.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking North over Levi</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173866917315872114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81EjInCBXI/AAAAAAAABEQ/1CSM9jTImbE/s400/IMG_5966.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Swirling over the peak</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81E_InCBhI/AAAAAAAABFc/sBEKFJ3Ll6k/s1600-h/IMG_6253.JPG"></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173866943085675938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81EkonCBaI/AAAAAAAABEo/7bZ9PyCwoA4/s400/IMG_5993.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dancing over the valley mist</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173916382454220434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R81xiYnCBpI/AAAAAAAABGc/7c_RTsLvp-k/s400/IMG_6009.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Flowing out over the clouds</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's it for part 1 folks.<br />Don't miss part 2 next week!<br /><br /><br /><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Getting caught blatantly staring at a woman's breasts in today's circuit training class! :[]<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 1.1/10</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Air travellers: Spice up the mundane task of going through airport security by walking bandy-legged like you're concealing something up your bottom*.<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">[* Will not be held responsible for any 'probing' that may follow]</span></em></span> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-1830034250672261963?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-13172174642385244542008-02-23T20:59:00.019Z2008-12-09T16:41:40.523Z2008-12-09T16:41:40.523ZSnowdome<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>L</strong></span>ast week I went on a 'Learn to board in a Day' course at the <a href="http://www.snowdome.co.uk/">Snowdome</a>.<br />Apparently "The UK's premier real snow centre"!<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Much to my surprise, I was <em>actually</em> snowboarding at the end of the day... gingerly... but snowboarding.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I go skiing every year, but I've finally had enough of having four things to worry about and having to wear ski boots that can only be described as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ski_boots%2C_Head_brand.jpg">torturous</a>.<br />Snowboarding, although considered 'the dark side' by skiers, is a lot nicer and the boots are just big comfy boots :]</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170283459062163730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R8CJaaV6aRI/AAAAAAAABEI/MyAdbYMtDKk/s400/snowdome.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Is that a plank of wood strapped to your feet Phil... Hmm... Yes it is!</em></span><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow morning I fly out to Lapland to continue my snowboarding and embark upon many other exciting adventures.<br /><br />See y'all soon...</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Teenagers who feel it's obligatory to shout things at cyclists!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 7/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#333333;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Dog owners: Never lose your TV remote control again. Simply Sellotape it to the back of your hound, and hey presto... Whistle and the device is at your beck and call!</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-1317217464238524454?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-28596324974364990172008-02-17T00:23:00.098Z2008-12-09T16:41:42.114Z2008-12-09T16:41:42.114ZVocation Vacation...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">A</span></strong>fter much deliberation, and a gentle nudge from an 18 month headache, I've decided to take a career break and resign from my job at <a href="http://www.xta.uk.com/index.html">XTA</a> as Research & Development Engineer<br /><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167897088651990354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7gPBXzglVI/AAAAAAAABDo/ClKQkdWfHh0/s400/factory_text2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've been at XTA right from the very beginning; a grand total of 15 years.<br />I saw the company start in a friend's spare bedroom and then grow to become a world class leader in audio processors.<br /><br />An amazing success story and I'm proud to of been part of it, but as with everything in life, nothing can last forever.<br />I'm not burning any bridges, but I feel it's time to move on to new adventures and break the 9 'til 5 lifestyle.<br /><br /><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167758966798718274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7eRZnzglUI/AAAAAAAABDg/NAnRAYoMYbM/s400/IMG_5288.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">My fantastic office at XTA<br /><br />I've learned so much in my time at XTA and have gathered countless fond memories and made so many friends - I wouldn't change a thing!<br /><br />I'm now enjoying some extended time off and spending quality time with my NBF...<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167744436924355858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7eEL3zglRI/AAAAAAAABDI/-Dj8zDjBYCI/s400/IMGP1938.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">My picture was taken on my last day and I was asked to pose like this!<br />Why..? See the news story on the XTA website <strong><a href="http://www.xta.uk.com/news08-philkey.html">HERE</a></strong> :0]<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Also see the 'subtle' editing on the XTA contacts page </span></span><a href="http://www.xta.uk.com/contact.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167935889386542466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7gyT3zglYI/AAAAAAAABEA/nRGU8oC5_5k/s400/IMGP2024b.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">...and they were not lying.<br />I did indeed receive a commemorative plate!<br />A superb tongue-in-cheek leaving gift :0)<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167906507515270498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7gXlnzglWI/AAAAAAAABDw/xuK4jNPYq0Q/s400/IMGP2016.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also received a handmade card that everyone had signed with lots of touching good luck messages<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167744441219323170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7eEMHzglSI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dZ_TI7SQGTM/s400/IMGP1945.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I even got a helium balloon that I ceremoniously released.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7eELnzglQI/AAAAAAAABDA/rne7tO9AJRU/s1600-h/IMG_5288.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />BUT best of all, and much to my surprise, my <em>real</em> leaving present was an iPod Touch!<br /><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167744428334421234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R7eELXzglPI/AAAAAAAABC4/GSojcdqSBi0/s400/08_large20080115.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">...aka my NBF...aka my <strong>N</strong>ew <strong>B</strong>est <strong>F</strong>riend.<br />Talk about well chuffed!!!<br /><br />If you've not seen an iPod Touch in action, check out <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features.html#music">this short clip</a> <span style="font-size:85%;">*drool*<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> My body breaking out in red blotches, from head to toe, after eating shellfish*<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">[* Next time I'll be more considerate - BOOM BOOM 'ahem' sorry]</span></em><br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 6.7/10</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Deaf people: Wearing oven gloves outdoors is an ideal way to stop strangers from eavesdropping on your conversation.</span></span> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-2859632497436499017?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-39740821197089380462008-02-03T11:51:00.001Z2008-12-09T16:41:43.662Z2008-12-09T16:41:43.662ZBredon Hill...<p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>R</strong></span>ecent snow flurries appeared to hit everywhere in England, apart from where I live :'[<br />So if the snow won't come to me, then I go to it!<br />This time, a jaunt up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bredon_Hill">Bredon Hill</a>.<br /></p></span><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723485828614210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WtqDZhiEI/AAAAAAAABBo/V7GWv9c1Ao4/s400/IMGP1886.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I managed to capture this elegant ice-feather formation, on the rear windscreen of my car, before the sun melted it.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723490123581522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WtqTZhiFI/AAAAAAAABBw/NSBxCPUsi9Y/s400/IMGP1891.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Snow and... not snow.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723490123581538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WtqTZhiGI/AAAAAAAABB4/vpV62aQG2Ts/s400/IMGP1899.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">View over Evesham from the snowline.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723494418548850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WtqjZhiHI/AAAAAAAABCA/CyemWeVCU3U/s400/IMGP1907.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">A band of cirrus clouds.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723498713516162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WtqzZhiII/AAAAAAAABCI/wbHHlAl_dv4/s400/IMGP1913.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The River Avon in flood.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723876670638226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WuAzZhiJI/AAAAAAAABCQ/be4uMT0-d50/s400/IMGP1915.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">At the top of Bredon hill, I spotted a rather unique marriage proposal.<br />I wonder if the inevitable divorce will be announced in such style? ;0]<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723880965605538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WuBDZhiKI/AAAAAAAABCY/QgLxQlJiCYM/s400/IMGP1917.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">I loved a thatched roof!<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723889555540146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WuBjZhiLI/AAAAAAAABCg/P6Usqlf_1t4/s400/IMGP1918.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...another thatched roof with an ornamental / deterrent 'thing' on it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162723898145474754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R6WuCDZhiMI/AAAAAAAABCo/8rrGJqmZQ2o/s400/IMGP1919.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What the heck is <em>that </em>supposed to be?<br />An </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eoraptor"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eoraptor</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> dinosaur perhaps?</span><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> A friend drawing a 'willy' on my arm, in blue Biro, while I was on the phone. Not too much of a crime, but I completely forgot about it and went to the pub.<br />Midst ordering a round of drinks, I realised I'm leaning on the bar sporting my new temporary phallus tattoo! <em><span style="font-size:78%;">GRRR</span></em><br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 0.7/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Homeowners: Make the normally mundane task of switching the central heating on a little more exciting by singing "The heating's on" to the tune of the 80s hit '<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Glenn+Frey/_/The+Heat+Is+On">The Heat Is On</a>' by Glenn Frey, as you are doing it!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-3974082119708938046?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-20522628634523501512008-01-27T23:11:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:45.423Z2008-12-09T16:41:45.423ZFour by Phwoar...<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;">A</span></strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> few months ago, a friend and I took advantage of a free<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/MB_World_Brooklands/home/drive/driving_experiences/individual/off_road.html">Mercedes M-Class</a></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/MB_World_Brooklands/home/drive/driving_experiences/individual/off_road.html"> off-road driving experience course</a>.<br />Basically the chance the rag the arse off expensive motors that aren't yours and take them places you'd never dare drive your own car :]<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160218553527404498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zHbzZhh9I/AAAAAAAABAw/GwG0kX9Yo3I/s400/IMGP6502.JPG" border="0" />The course took place in hundreds of acres around this manor house<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160219064628512786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH5jZhiBI/AAAAAAAABBQ/fHOKiL7H9_g/s400/IMGP6560.JPG" border="0" />The lovely shiny Mercs awaiting a good soiling<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160219073218447394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH6DZhiCI/AAAAAAAABBY/R2Dia8gKJEg/s400/IMGP6562.JPG" border="0" />We all had some very posh nosh with the lord of the manor<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160218553527404482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zHbzZhh8I/AAAAAAAABAo/7Bsb4mcuCwA/s400/IMGP6496.JPG" border="0" />Ahhh, the upper claaass humour - oh how we all laughed*<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">*Inserts tongue into left cheek</span></em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160218536347535250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zHazZhh5I/AAAAAAAABAQ/Kb-pcxFvQjc/s400/IMG_4626.JPG" border="0" />Grin-tastic<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><br />Now for a bit of <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;">postprandial action!</span><br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160219056038578178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH5DZhiAI/AAAAAAAABBI/iDLzklAAuNU/s400/IMGP6535.JPG" border="0" />388bhp and being told not to let the power off no matter what, just keep it straight, is remarkably good fun!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160218540642502562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zHbDZhh6I/AAAAAAAABAY/Q4sCqFTtzQM/s400/IMG_4632.JPG" border="0" />Tearing up the country side.<br />If the car looses traction, it pre tensions the seatbelts pulling you right back into your seat as the car anticipates you hitting something.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160218544937469874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zHbTZhh7I/AAAAAAAABAg/JkDETnq-ICU/s400/IMG_4634.JPG" border="0" />Driving through dense woodland is quite scary (for fear of damaging the car), but these beasts have many tricks.<br />E.G. If you need to make a tight, turn on a sixpence, turn: You stop, turn the wheel to where you want to face and then floor it - it puts all the power to the back wheels and cleverly spins the back end out to line up with where you're pointing the front wheels!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160219051743610850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH4zZhh-I/AAAAAAAABA4/IVSi-tBQWrU/s400/IMGP6508.JPG" border="0" />Bewildered cows wondering what us humans were fannying around at!<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(In bovine tongue of course)</span></em><br /><br /></div></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH5DZhh_I/AAAAAAAABBA/004N3x68lCA/s1600-h/IMGP6526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160219056038578162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R5zH5DZhh_I/AAAAAAAABBA/004N3x68lCA/s400/IMGP6526.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;">Nowt like getting a car filthy dirty, safe in the knowledge you don't have to clean it afterwards!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-3b804d9769000169" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player">
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</p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">There were a few sections that were really slippery, but after making it up this boggy incline myself, I did the gentlemanly thing of getting out and filming those who couldn't :0)<br />[Watch the wheels intelligently try different things]</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lesson learned: 4 wheel drives like this very much <em>can </em>go off-road with normal tyres, if driven correctly!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#333333;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:<br /></b></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Reversing into a car in town...oops...and the person was in their car at the time...double oops...and I wasn't driving my own car; I was driving a friend's car...triple oops!!!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 7.9/10</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><b>Today's Top Tip:<br /></b>Gents: Putting your mouth and chin inside a pint glass, sucking the air out and then removing it quickly, is an excellent way to give yourself an instant 'Homer Simpson style' five o'clock shadow!</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-2052262863452350151?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-68245856001490872102008-01-20T22:37:00.001Z2008-01-21T18:41:03.535Z2008-01-21T18:41:03.535ZLetter to 13-Year-Old Self...<p></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>I</strong></span> be tagged by <a href="http://lordhutton.blogspot.com/">Hutters</a> and <a href="http://myitcentre.blogspot.com/">Kat</a> to write a letter to myself aged 13:<br /><br />Dear Phil,<br /><br />This is a letter to you from "the world of tomorrow"!<br />Well actually it's just you aged 30 in the year 2008.<br />I'm not going to say too much, but here are a few things I think you should know.<br /><br />Obviously you're alive, so stop feeling like you're not going to make it past the age of 19, because you very much do and in good health too.<br />Things are a bit rough now I know and it's not going to be a smooth ride, but trust me, things slowly get better.<br /><br />It's not easy for you at school at the moment. There are a few nasty people in your year and although it goes against your ethics, please feel free to punch them in the face (really bloody hard) the handful that are making your school life a misery. It may get you into trouble, but you regret not ever doing it.<br />Don't let them get you down any longer!<br /><br />Anyhow, you soon end up making friends with whole load of cool people, both inside and outside of school, and have a ton of great times with them all, some of whom you're still good friends with to this day.<br /><br />Don't smoke... EVER!<br />Oh, and don't admit to <em>something</em> one rainy dinnertime - You'll up end up with an unsavoury nickname for the last 6 months of school!<br /><br />Don't worry about not having a girlfriend either, you soon get your chances with more than your fair share, although you end up getting hurt lots too.<br />Go along for the ride if you wish, but don't say I didn't warn you.<br /><br />Try harder in your upcoming exams. You could of done better, so put some more effort in lad.<br />Saying that, you gain a brilliant career and end up very sorted in life, so keep your head down for the last few years at school, as you're about to embark upon one hell of a rollercoaster of life, experiencing truly amazing things and visiting wonderful places around the world.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />It's never going to be a perfect life, but it's going to be pretty good!</p><p>Take care of yourself,<br /><br />Phil x<br /><br />P.S. The 'millennium bug' - nothing happens.</p></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Drinking too much whisky last night :[]<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 5/10<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Today's Top Tip:<br /></b>Bare patches on your lawn? Simply stop mowing a patch at the side and let it grow to a significant length. Then, with a rake, sweep it over the bare patch to create a realistic look of healthy growth like football's </span></span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/northeast/series11/football_gallery/02.shtml"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Sir Bobby Charlton</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <span style="color:#000000;">and TV's </span></span><a href="http://www.ukgameshows.com/atoz/programmes/a/ask_the_family/askthefamily_old_host.jpg"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Robert Robinson</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">!</span> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-6824585600149087210?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-81350299676584016392008-01-13T11:39:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:45.750Z2008-12-09T16:41:45.750ZRoundabout Rage...<p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">I</span></strong>'ve </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">worked in the same area (geographically speaking) for the best part of 15 years and only recently have I noticed many fellow motorists are <em>blatantly</em> queue jumping using a dirty little trick!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here goes - Rant mode <strong>ON</strong>:<br /><br />When I leave work, it's normally pretty busy and I have to join a queue of traffic to turn left at a roundabout.<br />Someone normally flashes me (now think headlights here folks, headlights) and kindly lets me pull into this traffic jam.<br /><br />There's always about ten cars in front of me and it takes a few minutes for me to reach the traffic island, as the cars in front are giving way to traffic coming from the other directions.<br /><br />HOWEVER! I've recently noticed that about half the cars passing me in the right-hand lane, are NOT ACTUALLY TURNING RIGHT AT ALL!<br />They are cars from behind me, that are pulling out and joining the right-hand lane, then going <em>all the way round the island</em>, actually exiting left, jumping the queue!!!<br />[See 'the red line of effrontery' in figure #1]<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155005352324580242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4pCDjiLQ5I/AAAAAAAAA_I/Qa3BtvVcEwo/s400/roundabout.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">[Figure #1]<br /><br /></span></em><br />CHEEKY BASTARDS!<br />So there I am, waiting patiently in line, like the Highway Code abiding citizen I am, while cars are tearing down the outside lane "indicating right" and then actually doing full circle and turning left, so I have to queue twice as long because of all these arseholes!!!</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I honestly can't believe the f'ing audacity of SO MANY PEOPLE!!!<br />Have they got no shame or conscience?<br />It winds the hell out of me that these people have no problem openly queue jumping!<br />How are they getting away with this???<br />Has this 'little trick' become acceptable or </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">what???<br />GRRRRRRR<br /><br />To entertain myself in the prolonged wait, I've started taking a mental note of the last three letters of cars' number plates passing me on the right and then I guess to see if they will emerge again, and I reckon I can spot a 'queue jumper' 90% of the time now!<br /><br />Doing stuff like this doesn't even cross my mind and I would feel so guilty if <em>I</em> did it.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">I HATE YOU QUEUE JUMPERS... EVERY BLOODY LAST ONE OF YOU</span><br /><br />*exhales slowly*<br />Rant mode <strong>OFF</strong></span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>Has anyone else experienced stuff like this?</em></span><br /></p><p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Changing the batteries in my smoke alarms, but inadvertently replacing one with a dead battery. It then took me about an hour to figure out what the occasional little 'chirp' I could hear was! Duh...<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 2/10<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#333333;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Busy Executives: Don't buy a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachshund">Dachshund</a> - Their amusing sausage shape means they take 50% longer to stroke than other dogs, and time is money!</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-8135029967658401639?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-41864937622489779512008-01-06T17:33:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:48.877Z2008-12-09T16:41:48.877ZClun...<div align="center"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;">I</span></strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">'ve been on a few adventures over the festive period, one of which was a lads' walking weekend in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clun"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Clun</span></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"><br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168071159038434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtkDiLQeI/AAAAAAAAA50/_Wdl5LMJv5w/s400/IMGP1806.JPG" border="0" />We all stopped the night at <a href="http://www.whi-clun.co.uk/">The White Horse Inn</a>.<br />...and also got slightly rollocked by the waitress for eating our own monkey nuts! Oops<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Take that any way you wish - LOL</span></em><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168273022501426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtvziLQjI/AAAAAAAAA6c/AWR0nmpQ_9Q/s400/IMGP1831.JPG" border="0" />Check out this old door I found round the corner from the pub.<br />What a lovely knocker :]<br />The town had lots of character and history, including it's own castle!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168071159038418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtkDiLQdI/AAAAAAAAA5s/AowSHHjpGTE/s400/IMGP1803.JPG" border="0" />The toilet in my room was fitted with a macerator and stuck to the cistern was this ambiguous label...<br />Please do not dispose of the following items <span style="font-size:85%;">[anti-clockwise]:</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">1.</span></strong> Asteroids<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">2.</span></strong> Broken rolling pins<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3.</span></strong> Half finished works of origami<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">4.</span></strong> Windsocks<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5.</span></strong> Candy sweet lips<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">6.</span></strong> Pairs of oars<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">7.</span></strong> Miniature Roman arenas<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">(A little specific one may presume, but rules are rules I guess)</span></em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168079748973042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtkjiLQfI/AAAAAAAAA58/KeRpmMWXUNQ/s400/IMGP1813.JPG" border="0" />The next morning - All geared up and ready to take on a 10 miler!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152166348877152642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4Ar_ziLQYI/AAAAAAAAA5E/msx7bY8ifp4/s400/IMGP1774.JPG" border="0" />It was bitterly cold and ice clung to everything<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152166348877152626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4Ar_ziLQXI/AAAAAAAAA48/_yWXfPdB_m4/s400/IMGP1773.JPG" border="0" />A frozen fence<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168281612436034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtwTiLQkI/AAAAAAAAA6k/HcaxxYU0qQw/s400/Phil+Key+1.jpg" border="0" />Razor blades of ice on a thorn bush<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168066864071106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtjziLQcI/AAAAAAAAA5k/pN41jVooDDg/s400/IMGP1797.JPG" border="0" />Funky patterns in a frozen puddle<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152166361762054578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AsAjiLQbI/AAAAAAAAA5c/ycwrb2MIJy8/s400/IMGP1787.JPG" border="0" /> Some of the walk followed <a href="http://www.offasdyke.demon.co.uk/dyke.htm">Offa's Dyke</a>* (the ridge on the right side).<br />A 1200 year old, 177 mile long line of historic defence!!!<br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;">[* Huh huh huh, I said 'dyke']</span></em><br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtvTiLQhI/AAAAAAAAA6M/3FqyDKwyIIc/s1600-h/IMGP1824.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168264432566802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtvTiLQhI/AAAAAAAAA6M/3FqyDKwyIIc/s400/IMGP1824.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> Looks like one of these moles has learned the art of fortification.<br />Now that's impressive! :0]<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtvjiLQiI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Ny5uJri4aWA/s1600-h/IMGP1828.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168268727534114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtvjiLQiI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Ny5uJri4aWA/s400/IMGP1828.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> One man and his dog - A fab carving I found along the way</span></p><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtkjiLQgI/AAAAAAAAA6E/dPML082_NKQ/s1600-h/IMGP1823.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152168079748973058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AtkjiLQgI/AAAAAAAAA6E/dPML082_NKQ/s400/IMGP1823.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Holly bush <em>with</em> berries - Relatively rare round these parts</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AsATiLQZI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Np-fySSWjys/s1600-h/IMGP1775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152166357467087250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R4AsATiLQZI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Np-fySSWjys/s400/IMGP1775.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A sheepy hill, "Baaaaaaaaaaaaah"</span><br /></span><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Having to spend £99.99 on a new car battery :[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3/10<br /><br /></span><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;">Today's Top Tip:</span></b></span><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;"> Sharing accommodation? Take a picture of yourself naked and looking surprised then pin it to the bathroom door.<br />That way, if anyone bursts in on you, they won't get such a shocking surprise.</span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-4186493762248977951?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-42200102678159774252007-12-22T10:33:00.000Z2007-12-22T10:33:47.801Z2007-12-22T10:33:47.801ZMerry Christmas Everybody...<p align="center"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nSCj-JBov1M&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nSCj-JBov1M&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></p><p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Having a stinking cold! Grrr :'[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 7/10<br /><br /><b><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#000000;">Today's Top Tip:</span> </b></span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#666666;">Don't invite drug addicts round for a meal on boxing day. They may find the offer of cold turkey embarrassing or offensive!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-4220010267815977425?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-1362573882833287642007-12-14T21:22:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:50.363Z2008-12-09T16:41:50.363ZBirmingham...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> live about 20 miles southwest from the UK's 2nd largest city:<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham"><strong>Birmingham</strong></a><br />Not having visited 'Brum' for a while, a friend and I decided to go for a bit of a jolly up there and was pleasantly surprised to see how much the city had come on over the years!</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143868794183827810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R2KxajiLQWI/AAAAAAAAA40/Nl19VKoRbXs/s400/brumscape.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">There was tons to see and do, and loads of fancy places to eat and drink. I was spoilt for choice shopping and the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Frankfurt Christmas open-air market</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">was also</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">on </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">for all your sausage needs!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490343393334418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjPLSClJI/AAAAAAAAA14/RZIi-ZFy0sY/s400/IMGP1657.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Some fancy <em>things</em><br /><br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490678400783570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjirSClNI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/AgJgQJpva68/s400/IMGP1671.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">A remarkably quiet street for this time of year!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490343393334402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjPLSClII/AAAAAAAAA1w/Z2YKQQTaIDA/s400/IMGP1656.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">An alternative looking Christmas tree,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> by day...</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490674105816258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjibSClMI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/IRM8Yf2d00g/s400/IMGP1669.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">...and by night</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490347688301730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjPbSClKI/AAAAAAAAA2A/u-d9XHPRtmA/s400/IMGP1658.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">One of the most impressive buildings is <a href="http://www.selfridges.com/index.cfm?page=1192">Selfridges</a><br />A <strong>HUGE</strong> department store.<br />It's a great shop and yes, they probably do 'sell fridges'!!! *oooh* <span style="font-size:78%;">sorry</span><br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490669810848946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjiLSClLI/AAAAAAAAA2I/1C08xc-A5WA/s400/IMGP1667.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">...and by night</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;">There are some top notch places to dine inside too.<br />My favourite being the</span> </span><a href="http://www.selfridges.com/index.cfm?page=1195&ArticleID=6510&artname=Ekachai%20Noodle%20Bar"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ekachai Noodle Bar</span></a><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490339098367090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjO7SClHI/AAAAAAAAA1o/ngEze3s-pug/s400/IMGP1654.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Selfridges escalator system is rather good</span></span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139490330508432482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R1MjObSClGI/AAAAAAAAA1g/YC9ISxErHi4/s400/IMGP1652.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I spotted they were selling chocolate stars. *snigger* </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">:0]</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">To finish, we went to see <a href="http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/core_asp/showpage.asp?theid=337">She Stoops to Conquer</a> at The Rep theatre</span><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Somehow managing to loose my towel between leaving my circuit training class and entering the changing rooms! I retraced my steps <em>and</em> asked staff, but nothing... GONE!!!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3/10<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;color:#666666;">Pop a few tea bags into your home's hot water tank and you can make a hot cuppa anytime by just turning on the hot tap.</span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-136257388283328764?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-86388710039180251472007-12-07T15:13:00.000Z2007-12-08T10:29:01.818Z2007-12-08T10:29:01.818ZTagaroonied...<p></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> be tagged by <a href="http://aojthelurchers.blogspot.com/">Angela</a> and <a href="http://jananned.blogspot.com/">Jan</a> - Ooh arr!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Rules: Link to the tagger and post these rules on your blog. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog...<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">1.</span> </strong>I'm currently on week 3 of a 'no caffeine for one month' regime and have really got into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos">Rooibos</a> tea!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">2.</span></strong> I wear belts the wrong<span style="font-size:85%;">*</span> way round compared to everyone else and always have done.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>(*You know, over your head then fed down between your toes... no, from left to right:)</em></span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">3.</span> </strong>90% percent of my dreams involve either cute women or dogs... or both... and no, not like <em>that</em>! The other 10% tend to be V surreal.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">4.</span></strong> It <strong>really really </strong>winds me up when people say 'pacifically' when they me</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">an to say 'specifically', and other such malapropisms. Grrr<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">5.</span></strong> For the last 6 months at high school, I was affectionately nicknamed "Boner Boy" :0] </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#000066;"><em>(I'm not explaining)</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm going to tag... erm... pfff... these bloggers:<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><a href="http://www.worldofwarlow.com/blog/">Warlow</a>, <span style="color:#000066;"><a href="http://blue-toccata.blogspot.com/">Toccata</a>, <a href="http://alwaysoverlooked.blogspot.com/">Sarah</a>, <a href="http://islandphotogirl.blogspot.com/">Photogirl</a> and <a href="http://robpannell.com/blog/index.php">Rob</a></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Well, if I'm being <em>pacific</em>, my level of day-to-day anger!!! :[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 7/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;color:#333333;">Never try to teach a sheep to sing. It wastes your time and irritates the sheep.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-8638871003918025147?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-90028727106381659312007-12-04T10:54:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:54.085Z2008-12-09T16:41:54.085ZSinful Sparklers...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">R</span></strong>ecently celebrating </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night">bonfire night</a>, here in the UK, I received the usual barrage of entertaining topical e-mails, one if which really made me laugh and basically consisted of a photo of four people spelling out a profanity using sparklers.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I sent the e-mail to a DJ guru friend of mine, who <em>just</em> couldn't resist trying this at home with his 6 and 11-year-old offspring accomplices!</span><br /></div><p align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">... The virtuosos at work...</span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R0AaneNykII/AAAAAAAAA08/eylTUDfplsI/s1600-h/DSC05350.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134132840630489218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R0AaneNykII/AAAAAAAAA08/eylTUDfplsI/s400/DSC05350.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">That says 'POO' by the way, not pod</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R0Aan-NykJI/AAAAAAAAA1E/0P90NSqqJyc/s1600-h/DSC05352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134132849220423826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/R0Aan-NykJI/AAAAAAAAA1E/0P90NSqqJyc/s400/DSC05352.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">That says 'TIT' by the way, not tij</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /><br />What a dastardly dazzling display and worthwhile effort, I'm sure you would agree! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Makes one proud, does it not *taps fist on heart* :0]</span><br /><p></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Inconsiderate humans! GRRR<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 8/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#333333;"><em>Dyslexics of the world UNTIE!!!</em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-9002872710638165931?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-7509193533791454412007-11-15T12:01:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:57.391Z2008-12-09T16:41:57.391Z2 legs bad, 4 wheels good...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">A</span></strong> few weeks ago, four of us amigos went on a lads' weekend to Wales, and although admittedly there were no titty bars involved, there was plenty of gambling, boozing and general lewd behaviour :]<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Day One:<br /><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132810101892306178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rztnl8bT1QI/AAAAAAAAA00/GiZ8tWEt47s/s400/DSC05240.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;">Our pitch on a deserted campsite at the bottom of</span> </span><a href="http://www.astrocelt.demon.co.uk/Bardic%20Traditions/Cadar%20Idris.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cadar Idris</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">, the highest mountain in southern Snowdonia!<br />The mass you can see in the background are the mere foothills to this monster; the summit is way up in them there clouds. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132798174768124994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztcvsbT1EI/AAAAAAAAAzU/aXyqweGRoGA/s400/DSC00794.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">W</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">hat a picture...<br />All of ten minutes into the accent, I'm knackered and leaking badly.<br />You should have seen how I looked at the end!<br /><br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132798191947994210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztcwsbT1GI/AAAAAAAAAzk/I9gI8IItX-k/s400/DSC05195.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">About 1/3 of the way up sits a rather impressive lake formed by the sides of Cadar itself</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132798217717798018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztcyMbT1II/AAAAAAAAAz0/vh0TV8XnTYo/s400/DSC05199.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">They<span style="font-size:85%;">*</span> say "actions speak louder than words"...<br />The Miserable Fox shows his appreciation of physical activities!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132798209127863410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztcxsbT1HI/AAAAAAAAAzs/9hToyVnIxrA/s400/DSC05197.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">They<span style="font-size:85%;">* </span>are in the process of improving the main path, hence all the white 'Helibags' full of granite in the previous picture, and yes, that's right, bags for helicopters, how cool :0)</span></p><br /><p align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799132545832082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztdncbT1JI/AAAAAAAAAz8/ZhschLcyHRc/s400/DSC05202.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The last unforgiving slog into the clouds and to the top<br /><br /></span></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799145430733986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztdoMbT1KI/AAAAAAAAA0E/_fqRzVW5NKk/s400/DSC05203.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">A small mountain hut can be found at the summit.<br />A few of us once slept the night in here on the floor - it was rather chilly, to say the least, as the hut has no door and clouds would spookily blow in.<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">...and yes, I do like to dress like a washerwoman from time to time :0)</span> </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><em><br /></p></em></span><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799154020668594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztdosbT1LI/AAAAAAAAA0M/3M6NmFpDmQE/s400/DSC05207.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Rich, you are wearing a rucksack and that is a walking pole, you are NOT a ghostbuster...<br />Although we didn't see a ghost all weekend, so maybe I'm wrong?<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799154020668610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztdosbT1MI/AAAAAAAAA0U/_K3HG4jcPxs/s400/DSC05211.JPG" border="0" />Descending back through the clouds revealed breathtaking cloud formations over the lower hills<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">***</span></strong><br />Day Two:<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799665121776866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RzteGcbT1OI/AAAAAAAAA0k/zmkYsQ0cTHk/s400/DSC05241.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Ah, Mr Fox as he vacates the farmhouse loos and by the look on his face, it was good one, so better give it 10...<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">...out of 10 or 10 minutes??? :]</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Next up, was a greasy spoon fry up breakfast and then an afternoon of quad biking<br /><br /></span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132801572087256306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rztf1cbT1PI/AAAAAAAAA0s/a7D8qAc8Fg4/s400/DSC05210.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The quad biking site was nestled high up in the Welsh hills and the course was brilliant.<br />You were issued with protective clothing and quad bike each and taken across miles of fields, through varied woodland and even up and down quite sizable streams.</span> </p><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132798187653026898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RztcwcbT1FI/AAAAAAAAAzc/6huUEOxRfdw/s400/DSC00817.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Half way through, we all stopped for a breather and I fell in love with the farm dogga 'Perol'. An absolutely top dog and the hound even rode on the back of my quad for some of the course, pushing in close to me to keep balance :)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#000066;"><em>[* I don't know who 'they' are, but if you are one of 'they', make yourself known]</em></span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> My lounge radiator leaking :[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">[Wise words once sent to me from </span><a href="http://iwannaridebikes.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sarah</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">]: "O</span></em><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">migod I am so hungover! You should NEVER, under ANY circumstances, go all day without eating, then have 5 beers, 2 shots of tequila, then 2 more beers, another shot of tequila and then 1 more beer"</span></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-750919353379145441?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-76293035700710892642007-11-04T22:59:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:59.209Z2008-12-09T16:41:59.209ZGigs...<p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>N</strong></span>o, this isn't a post about my hard disk size, although I am running out of space on my 80GB SATA drives, due to too much... I'll stop! :]</span></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I haven't been to a gig in a while, so in true OCD all-or-nothing styleee, I went to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kula_Shaker">Kula Shaker</a> and then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld_%28band%29">Underworld</a> the next day, as I'm friends with the people doing the shows and they use <a href="http://www.xta.co.uk/">XTA</a> gear.<br /></span><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />It was good to catch up with some people I hadn't seen for a while and we all ate out at a superb Thai restaurant in Wolverhampton called 'Made in Thai' - Highly recommended if you're in the area!<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123924140195644786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvV25hpBXI/AAAAAAAAAy8/mAlj29WY4ak/s400/IMGP1642.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Access-All-Area Kula Shaker pass!<br />I saw Kula Shaker many years ago, when they first became big, and I thought they were just as good this time round.<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123923444410942690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvVOZhpBOI/AAAAAAAAAx0/VZsuoMuSfP8/s400/IMGP1583.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Kula Shaker's dressing room containing their monitor engineer Jamie.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123923444410942706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvVOZhpBPI/AAAAAAAAAx8/NRX4nVYH8Os/s400/IMGP1586.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">As you'd expect, there were class A drugs and loose women everywhere as you can see :0)<br />Cups of tea, a can of warm Guinness and many Doritos were actually consumed instead, courtesy of the band, which makes it taste nicer.<br />Nice tea-bagging action there Jamie; knees bent, back straight, no drips!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123923448705910050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvVOphpBSI/AAAAAAAAAyU/e3J2QrtD0cA/s400/IMGP1604.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Kula Shaker from FOH.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123923448705910018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvVOphpBQI/AAAAAAAAAyE/RIZoVRqkQjQ/s400/IMGP1597.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Me old mucker Mike on lights and video.</span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>***</strong><br /><br />Next up, Underworld in Birmingham...</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123924118720808258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvV1phpBUI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Rpohyq4AdOs/s400/IMGP1627.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I've seen Underworld many times and one of my most memorable gigs was seeing them in Manchester years ago, although I hadn't seen those fab inflatable light-tubes used before.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123924114425840946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvV1ZhpBTI/AAAAAAAAAyc/LN9zdxK3hyo/s400/IMGP1622.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Frontman Karl Hyde is actually a resident lad from Bewdley and you'll often see his mum attending their local gigs and a guy I work with dates his niece!<br />Whoops, I've just blown their coolness factor haven't I? :]<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123924127310742866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RxvV2JhpBVI/AAAAAAAAAys/nlIfLtWCBBY/s400/IMGP1628.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">My friend John at the helm, while they do their most well known track 'Born Slippy', used in the film '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainspotting_%28film%29">Trainspotting</a>'.<br />That got the crowd going somewhat!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Discovering my old steel bath is worth only £3 to the local scrap merchants, who's advert reads: <em>'Scrap Metal Collected for Free - Top Prices Paid!'</em> :[<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 0.5/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">M</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">otorists: </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Honk</span> if you hate noise pollution!</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-7629303570071089264?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-76679535574621940222007-10-07T11:45:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:41:59.406Z2008-12-09T16:41:59.406Z<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RwjAw5sSd1I/AAAAAAAAAxE/dc0-ri0XNek/s1600-h/back_soony.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118552922859403090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RwjAw5sSd1I/AAAAAAAAAxE/dc0-ri0XNek/s400/back_soony.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rwi_hZsSd0I/AAAAAAAAAw8/Br6cOU_uc5I/s1600-h/back_soony.jpg"></a><br /><p></p><p></p><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, as </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;">I have <em>NOOO</em> idea what's going on!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3.7/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b> Pen theft victims: The put the cap of a red Bic pen on your black Bic pen. That way no one will steal or use it as they will assume it's a red pen. <span style="font-size:78%;">(May not work in areas containing a teacher)</span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-7667953557462194022?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-34850012982982631902007-08-13T17:21:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:42:09.579Z2008-12-09T16:42:09.579ZSheep Music...<div align="center"><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">A</span></strong> few weekends ago, a group of us provided the sound equipment for multiple tents at a festival in Wales called <a href="http://www.sheepmusic.info/">Sheep Music</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div></span></span><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097884359400595138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9S0KwXnsI/AAAAAAAAAvc/pRWyvJmyYZs/s400/Sheep_music_-_small_above.jpg" border="0" />Aerial shot of a previous <span style="font-size:85%;">(dry) </span>year<br /><br /><strong>Living mainly on beer and little sleep...<br />This is what happened:</strong><br /><br />After a lengthy and tiring set-up on a sunny Thursday, mother nature stuck her oar in on Friday morning and put an end to the smooth running thus unleashing a preposterous amount of rain onto the festival site!<br />I heard a weather forecast and it was "Heavy rain all day with outbreaks of heavier rain" and oh, they were NOT wrong...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878531129974290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9Ng6wXnhI/AAAAAAAAAuE/4jtK3P26VEQ/s400/IMGP1180.JPG" border="0" /> This bridge takes you over a very small stream to the main campsite<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878896202194546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9N2KwXnnI/AAAAAAAAAu0/ygSK7SJyfnE/s400/P1010428.JPG" border="0" /> By Friday afternoon it looked like this!<br />The bridge was closed for safety reasons and the campsite evacuated.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878900497161874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9N2awXnpI/AAAAAAAAAvE/icpGVZh5HdI/s400/P1010466.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The whole site became a disaster area, but carried on regardless.<br />We became a refuge zone, as the campsite site was cut off from the main site!!!</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878741583371874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NtKwXnmI/AAAAAAAAAus/b--cCOJEMpo/s400/P1010419.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Mmm, an all too familiar festival scene<br /><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097468271558892722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr3YYqwXnLI/AAAAAAAAArU/tQOcQUCuRt8/s400/Copy+of+IMGP1143.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The ground was a little... squishy underfoot shall we say?<br /><br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878522540039650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NgawXneI/AAAAAAAAAts/Lrsmi8Lz_vI/s400/IMGP1133.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;">Anyhow, enough of ugly mud pictures and over to some handsome geezers! :]<br />The elite main stage crew from left to right:<br />Lewis = Stage Hand#1<br />Big Rich = Lighting Engineer<br />Mike = Stage Hand#2<br />Stu = FOH Engineer<br />Phil = Monitor Engineer<br />Andy = Sound Guru Advisor</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097877453093182722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9MiKwXnQI/AAAAAAAAAr8/q4Och7HFEUA/s400/IMGP0912.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">In crew catering, I found an adorable German Shepard called 'Rocky'.<br />He was a large, hairy, gentle giant - more like a bear really :]</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097877461683117346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9MiqwXnSI/AAAAAAAAAsM/8uWRIs0PW-8/s400/IMGP0928.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Main stage monitor position - My home for a few days</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878080158408002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NGqwXnUI/AAAAAAAAAsc/AHhjOlXQ-_8/s400/IMGP0938.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Our on-stage fridge; mostly stocked with healthy beer.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097468275853860050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr3YY6wXnNI/AAAAAAAAArk/r36ysNZ6S5s/s400/IMGP0896.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">At the end of the 1st day, only one band actually played because of the weather situation, so it was time to crack open the cheese, biscuits and wine - Cor we're decadent!<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097877448798215394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9Mh6wXnOI/AAAAAAAAArs/X-iqI_F1ruk/s400/IMGP0898.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">There's nowt like an inflatable sheep with a rear orifice to provide some quality entertainment:]<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878084453375314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NG6wXnVI/AAAAAAAAAsk/qF3MEPVaQMc/s400/IMGP0948.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Saturday morning, the first band of many and I got to put a new Yamaha M7CL digital mixing console through it's paces... Very impressive! Touchscreen + Motorised faders = Phwoar :]<br />It was also my 30th birthday - A great way to spend the big day...<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098252687205965538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsChzqwXnuI/AAAAAAAAAvs/Bd5jKx4rIws/s400/IMGP0167.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The video crew even put up a special message for me on the screens!<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878075863440690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NGawXnTI/AAAAAAAAAsU/1KDM-XxVJx8/s400/IMGP0930.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The Silver Fox looking slightly unimpressed at Big Rich busting a move or two in audio airspace.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878084453375330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NG6wXnWI/AAAAAAAAAss/F9zIsi62Rj8/s400/IMGP0980.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span><a href="http://www.nizlopi.com/"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><a href="http://www.nizlopi.com/">Nizlopi</a> headlined Saturday night<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878904792129186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9N2qwXnqI/AAAAAAAAAvM/qHvOkjPDXLM/s400/P1010523.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">After the mad rush and zero line check for Nizlopi, we all sat on the stage, boozed 'til 3am, did card tricks and had a right old laugh.<br />Esme <span style="font-size:85%;">(seen in the background)</span> decorated me in UV paint, as you do, and everyone brought me cakes, wine, port, cheese and a Noah's ark puzzle book - Oh the irony!</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878913382063794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9N3KwXnrI/AAAAAAAAAvU/0YFOuK7d_qI/s400/P1010526.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Sunday morning - You know it's bad when a tractor has to be towed out of the mud!</span><br /><br /><br /></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878900497161858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9N2awXnoI/AAAAAAAAAu8/VXiZv-ejR9E/s400/P1010454.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Main stage tent mud on Sunday morning - A scraping was needed :[]</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097877453093182706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9MiKwXnPI/AAAAAAAAAr0/zf_H57w2Qas/s400/IMGP0909.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;">Big Rich bags himself a promotion from Lighting Engineer :0)<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*I'm sooo dead when he reads this*</span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878269136969090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NRqwXnYI/AAAAAAAAAs8/UJTszMiUS0k/s400/IMGP1020.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Health and safety shut down the dance tent on Sunday.<br />Spot one of our sub-bass speakers?!?!?</span><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878277726903714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NSKwXnaI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-uqwUN50ihM/s400/IMGP1067.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">There it was, to the left of the chairs - This is what we pulled out!!! NOT GOOD.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878273431936402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NR6wXnZI/AAAAAAAAAtE/ShBp2F2_xio/s400/IMGP1027.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The punter's toilets were starting to look pretty rank eh!<br />Do you not think <a href="http://blog.pygmygoat.net/520/">Stu?</a><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097877457388150034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9MiawXnRI/AAAAAAAAAsE/99ZxHV-l3VM/s400/IMGP0921.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">At the start of the festival I put my sunglasses on the spare channels on my mixing desk and they didn't move all weekend, so I just had to label them :)<br /><br /><br /></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878088748342642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NHKwXnXI/AAAAAAAAAs0/QYAmxJpIsjU/s400/IMGP1007.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Due to rapidly diminishing set-up time between bands, the stress levels were at an all time high on stage, so I made this sign, and as you can see, Mike put it into practice just nicely!<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878526835006978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NgqwXngI/AAAAAAAAAt8/8J339ZywvwI/s400/IMGP1155.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I was shouting out patch lines very hurriedly at times, so Lewis thought it was a good idea to write instructions in permanent marker on his hand LOL!<span style="font-size:78%;"><br />(Channel 9 Bass Guitar, Channel 10 Guitar, Channel 11 keyboard Left etc :)</span></span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878286316838338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NSqwXncI/AAAAAAAAAtc/6_Hj8DMjoKg/s400/IMGP1096.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">OK, where the hell I'm going to plug that into? </span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878282021871026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NSawXnbI/AAAAAAAAAtU/cPNSdCjto5w/s400/IMGP1084.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">The headline band on Sunday was <a href="http://www.dreadzone.com/">Dreadzone</a>!<br />We cracked a bottle of Jack Daniels and I partied *ahem* mixed the night away :]</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878513950105042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9Nf6wXndI/AAAAAAAAAtk/pvrWALzLkW4/s400/IMGP1120.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> Eww, Monday morning load out!<br />The horrified look on Stu's face while pulling cables out of the stinking mud</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878522540039666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NgawXnfI/AAAAAAAAAt0/kCTbiDBetxw/s400/IMGP1151.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Crew pulling out cable protectors buried in the mud<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097468262968958098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr3YYKwXnJI/AAAAAAAAArE/yt1OVWm_ONg/s400/Copy+of+IMGP1130.JPG" border="0" />I found this sign and couldn't resist the photo :)<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097468267263925410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr3YYawXnKI/AAAAAAAAArM/lUZzT61VzYU/s400/Copy+of+IMGP1136.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Site Manager Gareth;<br />"Is that a wooden fork down your overall or are you just pleased to see the sound crew?"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It was <em>just</em> a wooden fork by the way :0)</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098260143269191426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsColqwXnwI/AAAAAAAAAv8/G4Waxq90Zpk/s400/IMGP1159.jpg" border="0" />Loading a 10-tonne truck full of muddy PA gear wasn't very fun :[<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">How's that tail-lift button finger Bee?</span></em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Festival Aftermath</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878724403502626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NsKwXniI/AAAAAAAAAuM/tV09Wg0zGwY/s400/IMGP1196.JPG" border="0" /> 1 week later a couple of us returned to the site and helped clear up<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878728698469938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NsawXnjI/AAAAAAAAAuU/bK2s4U_ZLTs/s400/IMGP1203.JPG" border="0" />Hal trudging through the piles of now semi-dried mud<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878732993437250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9NsqwXnkI/AAAAAAAAAuc/4wG4qu7p9-g/s400/IMGP1212.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">After cracking open a beer, we then set fire to the last muddy remains of Sheep Music 2007<br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097878737288404562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rr9Ns6wXnlI/AAAAAAAAAuk/o5iOn7ankBM/s400/IMGP1220.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Gareth (AKA 'Gary' :0) I think you have the wrong idea of what a Fire Point is!</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">So, there you have it - Another fabulous Sheep Music completed.<br />It really is a fantastic event put on by fantastic people and it just goes to show, that even in the face adversity, when peole pull together you can accomplish amazing things!<br />Tired, bruised, battered and dirty... I loved every minute of it!<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">[: 300-Cheers To Everyone Involved :]</span></strong><br /><br />A <em>special </em>thanks to:<br /></span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098285062669442850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsC_QKwXnyI/AAAAAAAAAwM/EkGhzQ-UgTA/s400/IMGP0902.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Relentless<strong> Lewis!</strong><br />For his hard work and staying up all night, soaking wet, looking after the equipment AND for his superb pig-sheep-bottom thing!?!</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098286445648912226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsDAgqwXn2I/AAAAAAAAAws/3OdmbuVfs3s/s400/IMGP0967.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Magician <strong>Mike!</strong><br />For learning so quickly and putting in a LOAD of hard work; plus supplying the crew with nuts and Jack Daniels :]</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><em>And</em> a shout out to the other <em>'sound'</em> crew:</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098285066964410162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsC_QawXnzI/AAAAAAAAAwU/o75rqF4OH3I/s400/IMGP1018.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>Mr Waghorn</strong> and his resourcefulness</span><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098285071259377490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsC_QqwXn1I/AAAAAAAAAwk/Dmwh0fiK4zk/s400/IMGP1019.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Wonderful engineer <strong>Bee</strong> and her wellies :0)<br /><br /></span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098285071259377474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsC_QqwXn0I/AAAAAAAAAwc/pNcwgpFx0q4/s400/IMGP1048.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong>Joe</strong> and his boundless high spirits<br /></span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098285062669442834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/RsC_QKwXnxI/AAAAAAAAAwE/kzNQqe3TX5U/s400/IMGP1138.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">And last, but very much not least, <strong>Sheriff</strong> - Keeping the site powered all weekend.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><span style="font-size:85%;">He's also the only person I've ever met who shares the same last name as me!!!</span><br /></span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">* FIN *</span><br /></span></em></strong><br /><br /></div><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Completely messing up cooking an omelette! Grrr, don't ask!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 3/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em>House Owners:</em> <em>If you live below a flight path, fool airline passengers into thinking you have a swimming pool by painting a big blue square in your back garden.</em></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-3485001298298263190?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-9613370703749765002007-08-03T17:47:00.000Z2007-12-03T10:17:45.218Z2007-12-03T10:17:45.218Zmeme...<p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I</span></strong> have been tagged by the lovely Canadian Celeste AKA <a href="http://islandphotogirl.blogspot.com/">Photogirl</a>.<br /><br />The name of the game is to list 8 random facts about yourself.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">This is actually harder than it sounds without it being a boring list:</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">1.</span></strong> I'm a blue belt in Karate.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">2.</span></strong> My middle name isn't Mildred.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">3.</span></strong> I once skinny-dipped in a partially frozen lake because several friends bet me a pint of beer to do so!<em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">4.</span></strong> A teacher once kicked me out of a high school French lesson for disturbing the whole class by 'passing wind' too frequently!<em> <span style="font-size:85%;">Oh well...</span></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">5.</span></strong> My first kiss was in a garden shed with a girl called Nicky.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">6.</span></strong> I once ate rabbit pooh because someone told me it was all right to do so!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">7.</span></strong> My first car was a 1989 205 GR 1.4 litre.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">8.</span></strong> I used to have long hair in dreadlocks!<br /><br /><br />There's photographic evidence of some of the above, but which??? :0)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I'm supposed to tag 8 people, but</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"> I'm not going to this time as some of you have already done this and I'm a spoil sport, but please feel free to do the list if you should so desire...</span><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> <span style="color:#000066;">Waking up at 5:10am and not being able to get back to sleep!!! *YAWN*</span><br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 5/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><em>Husbands: Keep your wives on their toes. Nail the housekeeping money to the ceiling! :[]</em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-961337070374976500?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23688707.post-28167861466511893502007-07-29T23:23:00.000Z2008-12-09T16:42:11.237Z2008-12-09T16:42:11.237ZXXX...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">B</span></strong>efore I build your hopes up, this is not a saucy erotic post - triple X is Roman numerals for thirty and that's how many years I have been upon this planet, for the other day was my 30<span style="font-size:78%;">th</span> birthday!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I now feel qualified to use such statements as:<br /><em>"You kids don't know you're born"</em> and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">"<em>When I was your age..." etc</em><br />Taking food supplements is now acceptable and I also feel it's compulsory to go <em>"ahhh" </em>everytime I sit down :)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747286456802338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrKwXnCI/AAAAAAAAAqM/T00UAUbhV6c/s400/Bassetbday.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Yup, you certainly do smell birthday cake and that's probably what you can smell below</span><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747290751769650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrawXnDI/AAAAAAAAAqU/aY-j638KoCo/s400/Imgp1165.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">My sister got me this fabulous massiiive cake and it was themed around music and beer! Spot on big sis :]<br /><br /><br /></p></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I was mainly celebrating my birthday while at Sheep Music<span style="font-size:85%;"> (post coming next),</span> which is an ideal location and I had a whole lot of fun and a host of gifts and cards bought for me, ranging from booze to cakes, books to money, clothes vouchers to gadgets.<br /><br /></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">I had loads of cards too, including my first ever e-card from <a href="http://dakotashabitat.blogspot.com/">Dakota</a>!<br />Here's a run through of some funnies:<br /></span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747290751769666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrawXnEI/AAAAAAAAAqc/xIbYcDQON5I/s400/Imgp1222.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">*<br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747415305821298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SyqwXnHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/b6h14tmiIBw/s400/Imgp1230.jpg" border="0" />*<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrqwXnFI/AAAAAAAAAqk/BGjPuP6XLiA/s1600-h/Imgp1223.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747295046736978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrqwXnFI/AAAAAAAAAqk/BGjPuP6XLiA/s400/Imgp1223.jpg" border="0" /></a>*<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrqwXnGI/AAAAAAAAAqs/eb15kE4zSnc/s1600-h/Imgp1228.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747295046736994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0SrqwXnGI/AAAAAAAAAqs/eb15kE4zSnc/s400/Imgp1228.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">Everyone at work receives a handmade custom signed-from-everyone card for their birthday and this was mine.<br />Hoorah for the design Helen!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092747475435363458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qUyPzp0eaWU/Rq0S2KwXnII/AAAAAAAAAq8/3-XvB3MaREM/s400/Imgp1233.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;">My sister even got me this walking howling pet husky that now resides on my CD towers, keeping an eye out for any intruders... GROWL :)</span><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b></b></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000066;"><b>Today, I'm Most Angry About:</b> Realising I've permentantly lost all feeling on the left side of the toe that's next to my big toe on my left foot - Grrr!!!<br /><b>Grrr-O-Meter Rating:</b> 5/10<br /><br /><b>Today's Top Tip:</b></span></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><em>Dieters: Avoid that devilish temptation to nibble on a chocolate bar in the cupboard or fridge by not buying the f'ing thing in the first place!</em></span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">DoGGboy.co.uk<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23688707-2816786146651189350?l=doggasblog.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>DogDeluxehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15993996310397000858noreply@blogger.com26