Back in One Piece..

Got back from the trip Wednesday. Landed at Heathrow 25 minutes late at 12:45 pm after a flight of 8.1/2 hours, from Dallas.

Got back to Sheffield around 7:30 pm and back in the office Thursday.

Anyway - here's a couple more pics from the trip.

1985 Honda Goldwing at the hotel where we stayed near Boston.

The bike was way better equipped than the Hyundai Accent we had rented!

There was a cock-up with the booking at the last hotel on the trip so they moved us to another place and they paid for the rooms. A free night in an upgraded room and they even threw in a pitcher of Bud Light as an apology!

The hotel was called the Fairfield Inn and Suites

 and its a pity we were only there for one night.... the rooms had a bedroom, a living area with sofa and coffee table. There were two TVs and a CD player/stereo system! Very Nice!

View from tthe room doorway

 The "Living Area"

After a visit to our parent company, we headed for home on Tuesday afternoon.....

Flying down to Dallas Fort Worth and the long flight home!

Friday afternoon, we went down to Horncastle to pay the balance of our holiday bill - Elmhirst Lakes again - 2 weeks fishing - can't wait. We had fish and chips at the restaurant in the square and then a steady drive home.

Saturday was spent cutting grass and generally tidying the back garden. Hedges next.....

Not much else to say, although I shall be watching what speculation and conjecture I put on here because it would appear that some readers interpret passing comment as gospel truth. Remember - they say you should believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see!!!

Later.... perhaps!

The Trip So Far...

Saturday May 7th - picked up colleague from his  home 7:15 pm and drove down to Heathrow. Roadworks and a wrong turn (my mistake!) meant we arrived at the hotel at midnight instead of 10:15 pm.

Sunday - Breakfast at the hotel (£33 for the pair of us!!!! Robbing Southern b's!) Noon flight to Toronto and then a short flight to Sudbury Ontario, arriving 8:30 pm (1:30 a.m. Monday UK time!) Dinner (a burger) and bed!

Monday - client visit - went well - then fly back to Toronto. Met next morning's customer for dinner at the Keg (Steakhouse/Pub type chain - but very good!)

Tuesday - Awoke early to a glorious sunrise

Client picked us up from hotel, we had lunch then meeting at their place then flight to Boston. Flight delayed 2 hours.  Picked up hire car and arrived at hotel just before 11pm. Grabbed a quick bite at the local Sports Bar. Bed at midnight!

But the most important news of the day was the appointment of a new manager at Belper Town FC. The job has gone to Tommy Taylor, an ex-professional, with almost 1,000 senior games to his credit! Interesting choice and he'll have last seasons top scorer, Jon Froggatt as player/assistant manager.

Wednesday - Drove around to clients office - good meeting. He declined lunch so we grabbed a sandwich and headed back to Logan airport, dropped off the car - Hyundai Accent - don't ever buy or rent one! It cornered like a boat and had wind-up windows. Odd that. Wind up windows but one of the best radios I've ever seen and a plug in for an MP3 player!

Our flight was delayed due to thunderstorms over Grand Rapids but we eventually got there and in a small regional jet (60-seater), landed as the sky flashed and banged to the left of the aircraft! Picked up a hire car (Jetta - much betta!)

and drove to the hotel where it started raining heavily as we got out of the car on the car park! The kitchen was closed (well - it was 11 pm) so we ordered takeaway. Fast food dinner at midnight again!

Thursday - good meeting, lunch then a 5 hour drive to Bellefontaine Ohio (the temperature guage read 91 F at one point - at 4:48 pm it was still 89 F!)

where we checked into the Super 8 Motel. Arrived at 8 pm. and dined at McDonalds..... nuff said.

Friday - really good meeting at the clients place. The firm is run by a husband and wife team - two of the nicest people I know - and they always make us welcome. Because we were staying in the same hotel for a second night, we spent the whole day with them. This included a tour of the local area - including the shortest street in the world (Guinness book verified!) and the world's first concrete street - both in Bellefontaine Ohio. The shortest street is slightly longer than your average family car!

Saturday morning - left for our drive to the Pittsburgh area around 10:15 a.m and arrived at this hotel (Washington - Pennsylvania not DC) around 2:45 pm. The open road...

Chilled out for the afternoon and ate a late dinner at the Outback restaurant - Chicken and Ribs - lovely!) Heavy thunderstorms overnight flooded parts of the local area but we're OK here.

Sunday - up late. Continental breakfast and then a short drive to the local shopping mall where I picked up a couple of cds from Walmart. Looked for an anniversary present for the Duchess but nothing worthy was found. It's our 39th Wedding Anniversary on 20th May - 2 days after I get back. We had a sandwich for lunch then headed back to the hotel.

Chat via Skype with the Duchess - marvellous invention that! She's been at Under-11 and Under-15 Cup Finals most of the day and was relaxing at home after a tiring day.

Tomorrow we check out of the hotel and drive to Monongahela (about an hour away) for a meeting with a client. Straight from there to Pittsburgh airport, drop the car then fly to Springdale Arkansas via Memphis to meet up with the boss at our Corporate Headquarters on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening it's Springdale/Dallas/Heathrow, arriving in London at noon Wednesday. Pick up car from hotel and drive north to God's County and a proper cup of tea.

Back in the office Thursday. Read this lot again and you'll see why I haven't posted - we've never stopped until now!

Anyway, I gotta go... Oh BTW - pictures from the Duchess' little Canon Ixus camera - pleased with them!

See Y'all y'hear!

Och Aye The Noo - Shalom - Tha Nose.....

Bank Holiday Monday - we decided to have a walk up to the local park because they were holding a "Highland Fling". Lovely day (although I have to say the only "Highland" thing about it was a pipe band and some highland cattle!)

Anyway - there am I - taking pictures of the pipers (wearing the t-shirt my son brought me back from Israel)

When one of the pipers (pic on left) approaches me and points at the camera - or so I thought. Maybe he didn't want me taking pictures??!

He then sez "Shalom" (in a Yorkshire accent) and starts translating the Hebrew word on the shirt!

Five minutes later, he brings another of the pipers across and introduces him as Professor McNulty (below right) from Sheffield University. He wanted the Prof to confirm his translation. (Despite the fact we know it says "Goldstar" because it's repeated in English at the top of the logo!)

Could only happen to me - In Graves Park, Sheffield,  talking about Hebrew translation to a Scot and a Yorkshireman.... hence "Och Aye The Noo..... Shalom..... Tha Nose!" Surreal!

It was a good afternoon, although a very strong wind made it chilly but we spent a good couple of hours looking at Birds of Prey, Highland Cattle and Shire Horses. There were stalls selling a wide variety of foods and also a fairground for the kids to enjoy. Generally, a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

I'm working on an album because I got some nice shots of Owls and Falcons as well as the Highland Cattle.

Like these:

Post it ASAP but things are a but hectic just now. On Sunday, I head off to Canada and the USA to do a tour of some of the more important customers. It's also a "training exercise" for my colleague who will take over my duties when I retire (sometine over the next 18 months to 2 years!)

I'll try to post "from the road" as often as possible but we're cramming in a fair bit in over the 10 days we're away.

For now   - "Haste Ye Back" (oh and errrr - Shalom!)

Bluebell Wood

We had a wander around the bluebell wood yesterday. We spent a lovely hour or so wandering through woodland that we didn't even know existed! And my neighbour was right - it was delightful!

Afterwards, since it was such a nice afternoon, we drove out to the High Peak Garden Centre at Bamford for a cuppa and a scone before heading back home to listen to Radio Sheffield commentary on the Owls and the Blades. Both teams drew their respective games and that means the Blades are relegated to League One. As someone on Radio Sheffield said - looking forward to at least 2 Sheffield derbies next season... "It's a pity that one of the biggest derbies in the country will take place on the third tier of English football next season."

Oh well - here's hoping it's Wednesday first and United second at the end of next season! It's ridiculous that a city the size of Sheffield doesn't have at least one team playing at the top level.

Then - after a teatime sandwich - it was out into the garden to mow what masquerades as a lawn at the back of the house! I actually came in at around 8:30 pm, having spent 2.1/2 hours on the task.

Today will see something similar. The Archers Omnibus has just finished and when I've done this, we'll have a bite and see where we get to this afternoon. Home to Roast Pork and all the trimmings then another couple of hours tackling the front garden. (And I haven't even started on the hedges!!)

Also - whilst listening to the Archers this morning, I finally managed to sort out a "Cromford Canal Album" - It's here if you wanna look!

http://nortoner09.jalbum.net/2011%2004%2020%20Cromford%20Canal/

Sorry once again for the delay in posting this but I hope you enjoy it!

Anyway - for now..... "Tot straks!"

Saturday - and no footy to watch!

What to do instead?

Well - we're thinking about nipping out to the Bluebell Wood for a look. Our neighbours recommended it as worth a visit. They were there yesterday and reckon the bluebells are at their best right now. Anyway - we'll see because the grass wants cutting again, the hedges need a trim and there's lotsa dandelions to dispose of on the Nortoner Towers Estate!

Belper Town's season finished on Easter Monday with a 3-5 home defeat to Leek Town. Pity Andy Carney couldn't go out on a win but it was an exciting game. What the Sun would call "an 8-goal thriller". Albums are here:

As ever - Tim Harrison's first....

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/LkTwnH1011/index.html

And mine - (actually complimented by Mr Harrison as one of my best of the season!!)

http://nortoner09.jalbum.net/2011%2004%2025%20BTFC%203-5%20Leek/

Pity it took me all season to get it right!!

Not done much else apart from work this week. We were given the option of taking yesterday off to watch the Royal Wedding or going into work and taking a day later in the year. Since we finish early on Fridays anyway - it made sense to me to work in the morning and have a full day later on.

Still editing the pictures of our day out at Cromford - I promise I'll get some on  here soon - but I've taken a heck of a lot of pictures in the last week or two and I'm still sorting through them.

Here's a couple to be going on with....

Threatening sky at Glapwell - last Saturday - the rain never came although we found out when we got back to Sheffield that there had been heavy thunderstorms with rain and hail! 

.

Glapwell again - pre-match warm up - Jon Froggatt decided Matt Plant needed to cool down rather than warm up!

Apple blossom on our tree at Nortoner Towers.

Nowt else to tell you - but I'll do more later. Eggs and Bacon now - then Bluebell Wood,  then cutting grass - so I'm not sure when I'll do more and it will definitely be later!

Cheers!

Will somebody please slow down the clock!

A week since my last post! Sorry - that's not "more frequently" as I promised.

Anyway - still busy editing pictures and I'll post a couple of albums maybe this evening. (hopefully!)

It's been a busy week. We decided on Tuesday that I'd book Wednesday afternoon off work and maybe go to watch Belper Town at Market Drayton but after thinking about it and after a text exchange with my mate Tim Harrison, we decided not to go. It's a 2 hour trip from Nortoner Towers and it would have been close to midnight when we got home. With work on Thursday morning that might have been a bit too much at my age!.

Tim went of course - and recorded a fantastic 4-2 win for the mighty Nailers!! See his album here:

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/MrktDrytnTwnA1011/index.html

Still took Wednesday afternoon off and went to the Cromford Canal (more good advice from Mr Harrison!) and had a grand couple of hours wandering around, enjoying the sunshine. It's a lovely spot - as you'll see from the pictures when I've finished editing them! For reasons unknown, almost all of the pics I took are badly overexposed and a lot of adjustment is needed in Photoshop before they are good enough to put on here.

Saturday meant a trip to watch Belper Town at Glapwell. A ground where we've never won apparently! Anyway - that was put right as Belper emerged 3-0 winners. Tim's album is here:

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/GlpwllA1011/index.html

Needless to say - I'm still editing  mine! (Because it's been a very busy weekend)

Sunday - up early and a long drive to Folkestone to meet up with our son and daughter-in-law. They drove down from Rotterdam, through the Channel Tunnel and we met up for a few hours (including Fish and Chips of course) There were one or two items which our son wanted to get back to Holland and so we decided a day out would be perfect. We've done it before and it makes for a long day but it's great to see them! Easter eggs were handed over (they are back on the diet Tuesday I believe!)  and they brought us a bag of small gifts from their recent holiday in Israel.

It was a beautiful day and we got back about 8:00 pm last night. As you can see - the tide was out!

Today - off to Belper this afternoon to see the final game of the season and the final game of Andy Carney's tenure as team manager. The new Chairman was at Glapwell and also the new "Executive Director of Sport" - or so the whisper around the ground said. Dunno who this guy is - there has been no official announcement from the Club so we'll wait and see.

The new manager is yet to be appointed. Applications have to be in by 30th April apparently.

Who knows - the changes might be a bit too much for us. The Duchess and I have to decide where we'll be watching our footie next season. It will  be a great pity if one of the main attractions of Belper Town for us - the "friendly" atmosphere - is lost but we'll see.

Now it's time for bacon and eggs and then off to Belper to say "Goodbye" to a top bloke, Andy Carney. 

I Took A Blogging Break....

.... but I'm back with a re-design - see how it goes - not sure if it's improved the blog at all. Anyway - to tell you what's been happening....

The real highlight is a win on the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice Lottery! A couple of weeks ago, totally unexpectedly, a nice cheque for £1,000 dropped on my doormat. That's our annual fishing holiday paid for then! (I could have bought a new lens, tripod, etc., etc., but felt it made more sense to pay the balance of our holiday!) The Lottery is about £4.50 per month... why not join and help the Hospice in it's incredible work? Maybe you could win a grand!

The site link is here:
http://www.bluebellwood.org/

As for football. Well, Belper Town's season continues to fizzle out. A 5-1 win over Market Drayton at home proved to be a bit of a false dawn. Pictures are here (Snapper's)
http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/MDTH1011/index.html

and here: (Mine)
http://nortoner09.jalbum.net/2011%2004%2002%20BTFC%205-1%20Market%20Drayton/ 

The team then lost in the Presidents Cup Final - rather too easily as it happened - our only strike on goal was the penalty  kick that made it 3-1 to Lancaster City. A draw with Lincoln United and two defeats "on the road" leaves three games to play.

You can see all Snappers pictures from the Cup Final, etc on the Belper Town Fans Forum:
http://joeywinson.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general

Scroll around in there click on the "Photos" threads and catch up!

The new Belper Town Chairman was installed this week and we'll see what the effect is. He certainly sounds enthusiastic and talks a good fight,  judging by the press release but we'll see if he can turn the words into action.

We'll be at Glapwell next Saturday for the penultimate game of Belper Town's season and at Belper on Easter Monday to see the last match that Andy Carney will take charge of. Sad day that will be. And we still haven't decided if we'll follow Belper next season. Lets see what happens this summer.

Nowt else really to report - life goes on and I've been busy with the camera. Got some lovely shots of a sunset a couple of weeks ago and submitted one to weather photos at Yorkshire Television . I'm delighted to say they used it as a background during the local weather forecast!

Some other shots from various expeditions - for your delectation.......

The company I work for resides on Effingham Road, hence the local sandwich shop is called the "Effing" Sandwich Shop!

A daffy in our garden

A resident of the Rare Breeds Farm in our local park

Graves Park - just around the corner from Nortoner Towers

Apple blossom in  a neighbours garden 

Ladybower/Derwent Dams - late afternoon

And there's lots of football pics but I can't be bothered - besides, as I've already said - if you wanna see good footy pics - visit the Belper Town Fans Forum (link above) and click on Snapper Harrison's "Photos" threads - there's loads of good uns there.

As for work - still busy but things have slowed down. Now preparing a trip to Canada and USA for mid-May (had to wait until footy was finished before I shoot off!)

So - I will try to revert to more regular posting but in the meantime - I'd welcome any comment (good or bad but I'll ignore the bad!) about how the new blog layout appears on YOUR screen please!

TTFN