Selina received a letter through the post from Liverpool University informing her of an award she has won. She has been awarded a Royal Institution (Canning) University Scholarship, one of a limited number of scholarships awarded for one year on the results of either Year 1 or Year 2 assessments.
She obviously is not taking after her father while at University.
This Wednesday we both took the day off from work and went to Royal Ascot for the Second Day of Racing.
We met up with the others at the Plough and Anchor for breakfast at 9.30 and left in the coach at 10.30. We got a bit slowed down by traffic at Ascot but arrived in the car park at about 12.45. Out came the wine and luncheon. Jake had provided us with beef, smoked Salmon, chicken and ham. It was a veritable feast.
Then we were off to the racecourse, where we watched the first two races from the rail in the Grandstands. Bet on Ann Summers Two in the second race. It came in fourth.
Next two races we watched from the paddocks, hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen. She passed by us when our backs were turned. Here it was fascinating watching the owners, jockeys, and trainers in the Paddocks and Winners enclosure. All the men were wearing the top hats and grey morning dress (well except the jockeys).
Last two races we met up with the group again at the rail. Placed a bet on Mana d’Argent in the fifth race. No idea where that horse came in, and in the seventh placed a bet on Sky Galaxy. Third at the last furlong, and then it too faded. Not a great success.
We went straight back to the coach to finish the food. On the way back Rosemary asked one of the limo drivers for a look into his car. It was quite fabulous. He said there were 5000 stretched limos registered in the UK. There must have been a very high proportion of them here. He had come from Nottingham.
At the coach we set up for our evening meal. More of the lunch with Pimms, G&Ts wine beer. We were having great time.
The evening was spoilt by what I consider was some very heavy-handed Thames Valley police action. There was quite a few police in our car park, which contained only 30 coaches. They all seem friendly and some were actually from Aylesbury. We had spoken to them, and had pictures taken with them and their police horses. Near by was one coach which had set up a disco, we had moved over there to take part in some dancing. While we were there it seems a couple tripped over and fell to the ground. Instantly the police where there, including the horses breaking up the event. Some 20 police had appeared from nowhere.
So we took the hint that the party was at an end and departed. Back on the coach we soon left and made a stop on the way home for some additional drinks at a pub.
Left again at 10.45 and back at the P&A at 12.30. The long journey time home was because we got lost coming home. For some reason we seemed to be driving around Reading at one stage. I think some instructions to the coach driver by over enthusiastic navigators got us on the wrong road.
Today was the funeral of Joan Blasdale who was my aunt. The service took place at 2.00 pm at the Robin Hood Cemetery and Crematorium. The weather was very pleasant. Afterwards we had food and drinks at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel.At these events you catch up with your relatives who you should see more regularly, but never do.
This is the content of a flyer from the Egham fire station. It makes some very good points.
On Thursday 11:15 pm, Egham’s Firefighters left their picket line and answered a call to a serious traffic accident on the Windsor Road. On arrival the crew were faced with a serious Road Traffic Accident with a young man trapped in his car, with what we can only describe as critical injuries. The Green Goddesses and the Navy Rescue Tender had already been on scene for ten minutes although no real progress had been made.
After standing down the army, the Egham’s Crew, now accompanied by the Rapid Intervention Vehicle from Chertsey Fire Station, took 15 minutes to cut the casualty out and transfer him to the ambulance.
Despite the Navy Rescue Tender having the same cutting equipment as the regular Fire Engine, the personnel were still using hacksaws to remove the windscreen. The Doctor at the scene stated to Egham’s Crew – If you had not turned up, then this man would still be in his car this morning.
We are not blaming the Army lads for their efforts, as this is not
their job. But this accident we feel clearly demonstrates the point, that even if you are provided with the necessary equipment to carry out the task, you still need the TRAINING, the SKILLS and the EXPERIENCE to save someone’s life.
For this expertise and numerous other skills we are currently paid £6.50 an hour. All we want is £9.00 an hour. Is this really too much to ask.
Went to the open day at Pennywise Racing to say hello to Cressex Katie. She may be running again in a couple of weeks at Wolverhampton.
Went to catch the coach which was leaving from the local farmer at 7.30 We left for London at 8.00 with a full load. No traffic on the way into London other than a few other coaches. We were dropped of at Hyde Park Corner at around 9.30 .
Joined the waiting march at about 9.45. The march started at 10.00 am and we eventually started to move at 11. I was walking with Annie and George from the local garage. The weather was very variable, sun, and cloud with a little rain. Magnificent crowd with no trouble at all. Very few antis turned up, and these were treated with respect.
There we a wonderful mixture of people on the march, walking with a great mixture of slogans. Many of the banners carried slogans comparing Blair with Mugabe and Hitler. (Apparently Hitler banned hunting, and we know what Mugabe is doing to farming.)
The march for us ended at 2.30, and we were back to the coach by 3.30 and on our way home. No problem with the tubes. We crossed the march end at about 200 thousand. When the march finished the count had registered 400 thousand participants. This was a great success, but will Blair listen. I somehow don’t think so. So I some how think the next demonstrations will not be quite so nice.
Took Friday off work to see a Cricket match. All started on Wednesday when I went to the Plough and Anchor for a pint. Paul Ring the landlord ended up selling me his ticket to the second day of the England against India test match at the Oval.
A bit of a rush on Friday, went to Cross, the butcher and bought the beef joint for Saturday, then went to two Tesco shops to try and buy a whole Salmon. Found one in the Aylesbury Tesco. Bought that and put it into the refrigerator at work. I was still able to catch the train to London in time for the start of the match.
There were ten of us from the nearby villages watching the match from the Glover stand. The rain held off with the sun shining most of the day. It was an interesting experience, with me drinking several pints of Fosters. The game seems to play on in the background while you drink and chat with the others around you.
We had an wonderful weekend visiting prehistoric monuments in Wessex with Andante travel. More details and pictures to be posted on the website later.
We travelled to Salisbury on Friday for an evening lecture on Stonehenge.
On Saturday we started early for a private trip around stonehenge. Here we were able to walk among the stones. After the visit, which had to end before 8.30, before the general public arrived, we had a walk through the prehistoric landscape of stonehenge.
Picnic lunch in the afternoon, then a visit to the Trust for Wessex Archaeology, and a visit of Salisbury Museum.
Supper was provided by Andante and was excellant.
On Sunday we went to Knap Hill by coach, and walked from there along the Wansdyke to the burial chambers of West Kennet long barrow. We passed by Milk Hill, and Tan Hill. I saw a paraglider and hangglider flying Milk Hill.
After the barrow we walked on the Avebury passing Silbury Hill. Excellant picnic lunch by Andante, and then a visit to the stones. Back on the coach to Salisbury and then on home in the car.
A great weekend.
The mobile phone started to text message me with wind warnings at Coombe Gibbet. Yes the wind was blowing from the North West, so it was a Coombe day. I dithered around all day wondering whether to go. Eventually I left work at 3.15, and arrived at Coombe at around 4.45, to find about 20 paragliders at the site.
There had been flying, but the wind had gone further round to the West and now it seemed unflyable to me. I did see some gliders do a little flight, but with the liklyhood of no thermals at the end of the day, and the wind not on the hill at all, I decided the trip had been a waste of time.
The moral.
Make you mind up early and go and fly, don’t wait till the end of the day.
Take note of the forcast, this did show the wind moving to the West at the end of the day. This made Dunstable flyable late on, so I should have gone there and not Coombe.
This morning drover over to Alan Spargo’s. He trains race horses. We bought a small share in a horse called Cressex Katie. If the conditions are firm to good she should be racing on Tueday.