Ian Robinson

Well, with the rain lashing at the window it is time to realise that autumn has come and that summer is over for another year.

I have done a lot less cruising around this year, due to taking up golf again. But I have been out for a few runs, notably up along the Ogmore Vale and through Treherbert to a beautiful spot looking down on Hirwain and the Tower Colliery (the last working pit in Wales).

Below, I have put in two photos of the roads which may have those in S.E.England a little envious. The first is the view looking down to Treochy, famous for its choir, and the second is on the road going up to Hirwain common.

I took these on a ride two weeks ago, in the last throes of summer- oh those balmy days which won’t be back for 8 long, dark months.

I must say that as I get older, I appreciate the summers a lot more and resent the winters in equal measure. I think that, although I do enjoy the seasons and their particular specialities, I really would like to move to sunnier climes. Spain would be nice as they have a decent amount of hills to climb and ride up.

Sod the cold and rain, bring on the sunshine.

I have been having a frustrating time trying to get some images into my weblog. Please get back to me and tell me what you see.

LIFEBOAT STATION, BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT

OK I think I have got it now. All I have to do is remember how I did it.

Well this is what I did. First of all I posted in the picture, but this was far too big (apparently it should be about 450 pix wide and whatever to keep the aspect ratio (I suppose). I went onto the Image Shack web page and copied the information for the thumbnail. I then posted it using the HTML code. Then I had both pictures so I right clicked the picture and deleted the biggun. I will just try the thumbnail next time but remember to load the whole link from Image shack. I like Image Shack.

Well yesterday (20/9/06) was Ann’s 55th birthday. As I failed to find a card which had a 55 badge, I just had to get two 5 cards. Ann did not wear the badges to work, which shows she is either cowardly or sensible: you choose. I spent ages at lunchtime finding a Sound of Music DVD; it seems that shops like Virgin and HMV can no longer make money by selling normal DVDs at £15 because although they only make a reasonable profit on them, Joe Public considers the price a complete rip off. Therefore they only stock DVDs they can stack high and sell low. Luckily they had a special offer on a single disc version of the Anniversary issue, for £8.99, so I was able to buy one.

I made Ann a sausage risotto made with top quality Cumberland sausages, chesnut mushrooms and the usual rice, herbs and stuff. She left the sausage! I would not mind this so much had she not enjoyed the disgusting Sainsburys sausages two days previously: these are the ones that you cook in a dribble of oil in the pan and at the end of cooking the sausages have shrunk to the size of a pencil and are floating on a sea of grease and water. There is simply NO acounting for taste. We then sat down and enjoyed the film very much.

Thursday was Dentist Day. I enjoy going to the dentist as much as I like being subjected to other forms of Pain and Humiliation. I did at least arrive early and was out by 9.45. I did not want to rush to work with a dead jaw and therefore went home for a cup of tea and to get the motor bike. It is bad enough using the bus on a wet day but on a fine day it just can’t be done. The rest of the day was a bit of a write off really.

Next week is when the Undergraduate students return, Fresher’s week consists of Registration, trying to avoid all of the Societies and getting drunk with new people. There is a pamphlet from the Health Centre entitled “How to Make New Friends Without Contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases” but considering that the only reason students ever vist the Health Centre is to get treatment for nasty rashes in unmentionable places, it’s all a bit futile really.

Still, it’s Friday tomorrow and I am looking forward to visiting Beaconsfield and missing the Ryder Cup on telly and my weekly fix of golf on Sunday. Could be worse, I may actually enjoy myself. Ann and I will be having an intimate lunch at a nice pub to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary (she should get a medal).

Ta Ta for Today to anybody who may read this rubbish. Still, I must say I enjoyed it even if you didn’t, and at least I can spell.

So here we are, writing my first blog. After reading 8 pages of instructions and trying to log in (I have had to change my password three times already) and then being told I cannot change the look of the page as I have insufficient permission, whatever that means.

So with the forlorn hope that this message will actualy go somewhere, I am going to press the button.