FTP on the Long Mynd

Two weekends ago FTP took us to stay at the excellent Long Mynd Hotel, Church Stretton. The Long Mynd must be one of the most beautiful areas of England, but few seem to know of its existence. A great area for walking, etc., and one of our favorite places.

I'm sure I will manage to write a about some of the things we did soon, but in the meantime....

... heres a photo of FTP on the Long Mynd (worth clicking on to see full size).

12/12/12 ~ End Of The World ~ Not Quite...

On the 12/12/12 (last Wednesday) several people at work suggested that this was the Mayan end of the World date.

Fortunately, it wasn't but.....



Bedford Station was closed due to a bomb hoax........and I was late home from work!

Corby Candle Renewed

A few months ago I posted that the Corby Candle public house, in Corby was being re-developed, and that the old sign was being hidden by PVC cladding. In October I took a picture of the new pub sign, because it draws from the the old:



I did not post because I thought that I would pop in and have a look at the new pub. I did today. They have a big sign saying they serve coffee and Free WiFi. The coffee is cheap 85p, but instant, and the Free WiFi is not working yet!

FTP Goes To Cornwall

FTP took us on holiday to Cornwall. Eight days away, just under 1,400 miles, and everyone was happy. As you would expect at the end of October, and the beginning of November the weather was not brilliant, but it did not stop Denise and myself having a great time. Stayed at Invernook Hotel, Newquay, which served our purposes well.

We have been back for over a week and I have not posted because I intended to put an MPG figure to the trip ~ this week I have gone to work on the train and so I have not filled up to give a final usage figure (will add later as a comment).

Number Plate Broken ~ Vandals Strike Again

On Wednesday morning I parked FTP near Corby station in order to get the train to work. As I walked away I noticed something was missing:



Deece contacted the Police to report the vandalism, and they gave us a crime number. Today I recieved a letter from Northamptonshire Police about car crime, and also a bag of number plate fittings!



Fortunately, I have now replaced the plate so we are legal again.

Thoughtless Parking & Ill Thought Out Parking Regulations

Outside Iceland, Milton Keynes I noticed there were half a dozen parking spaces with charging points for electric cars. However, all parking bays were taken by cars with internal combustion engines. Thus, if I had have made it to Milton Keynes in a battery powered car, I would not have been able to charge because petrol/diesel cars had taken all the bays. Granted it was 13.00 hours and the whoever had set up the bays had allowed for general parking between 10.00 and 16.00. However, why would anyone even consider parking, and thus, prevent access to these bays, when non-charging bays were available opposite the charging bay, i.e one carriageway away, or down the side of Iceland, about 30 feet away.

Just seems like thoughtlessness by the drivers wasting the potential of the bays, and by whoever set up the parking restrictions, which allowed this situation to occur.

The Corby Candle

The Corby Candle is a well known public house in Corby. It is named after a large chimney at the Corby Steel Works, which had red flames at the top, giving it its name. It is said the Corby Candle pub was the first place many Scots moving to Corby went once they got of the bus from Glasgow.

The Candle is currently closed for refurbishment. As I walked past today the tile plaque by the door was just about to be covered by hideous beige plastic cladding. At least the plaque will still be there under the cladding to be unearthed another day...

FTPs Youngest (Human) Passenger To Date

FTPs younget passenger to date gets back into his seat, just before falling asleep, after an enjoyable day at Sacrewell Farm.

Extreme Myvi Packing

Several years ago the farther-in-law was having problems with cramp in the night stoping him sleeping. To resolve this we bought the in-laws a waterbed. This resolved the cramp issue because the the gentle support at body temperature maintained circulation. Alas, now the waterbed is no longer needed, so yesterday we moved it to a new home. All of this wooden frame, and foam, excluding the headboard: Fitted into FTP in one trip, just leaving the Waterbags for a second trip: The front seat was moved as far forward as possible and the wood was built up filling the passengers side of the car. The foam was then added to this. This left enough room for two occupants. The one problem I did have was that I could not see to the left of the car, and so I had to work out a route that did not involve right turns!

I'm just so glad the Myvi is like a Tardis on the inside.

Egg Vandals (Again)

Yesterday I went out to get the train to work at 06.00, and the egg vandal had struck again.

Since I last mentioned this problem on the blog, FTP has had a another attack, but that was during heavy rain and did not stick.

Yesterdays was the the sixth attack, and had to be on the 7th because I did not get home from work till 23.30 on the 6th. I did not have time to deal with the issue because I did not have time and would miss my train. However, Deece was a hero and got in a Taxi to the station (on her way to work), with a bucket, a large bottle of water, a sponge, and a spray of vinegar solution, and dealt with the problem before it dried.

Bedford Police: Do As We Say, Not As We Do

I walk past Bedford Police Station on the way from the Railway Station into work. I just one week I witnessed three occasions where Police cars were flouting parking law. After the first occasion I decided to photograph any subsequent breaches.

I believe it is necessary to have rules in order to protect people, and keep society running smoothly. I find it irritating that so many of societies rules, such as speeding, are routinely flouted.

However, why should anyone abide by the law, when the Police themselves routinely break it?





10/03/2013 - Update - For some months now a few parking places seem to have been left available, so that parking on footpaths/yellow lines is no longer happening. Wonder if this piece helped, situation changed shortly after sending the link to the local press!

Egg Vandals

This morning was the fourth time we have gone out to FTP and found someone had thrown eggs at him..... Pointless....

FTP - his name.

When we chose FTP we were given a lsit of number plates and FTP jumped out at us because we both instantly said File Transfer Protocol. After a few seconds thought we changed the name to Family Transport Protocol, and FTP was named: Family Transport Protocol

The other night I was parking and about 15 teenagers came up to tell me how much they like my number plate, but in street slang FTP means something completely different, F... The Police. Apparently I have lots of street cred with local young people!

Our Old Kenari - On Google Street View!

Ealier I found our old Perodua Kenari on Google Street View.

Rain - and flood plains.

I does not seem to have stopped raining recently, and the soil is waterlogged. On Monday night we had some rest-bite from the rain and took the opportunity to enjoy watching water in flooded fields in the Welland Valley, neat Cottingham. After wich we had a very tasty meal at the Falcon Hotel, Uppingham Photos taken on Deeces new Sony S Tablet.

New Shoes

I've needed a pair of shoes for a while now. Wanted something nice, and living in Northamptonshire something made locally. Unfortunately, it seems to be getting harder and harder to buy shoes that are made in Northamptonshire - once the capital of the shoe industry. Fortunately, I came across a company called VeganLine, Although I am not a vegan, I appreciate the fact that Veganline rate their shoes ethically, and some are locally made.

I found a pair of shoes called camouflage shoes, with soles similar to Doc Martins which I used to buy and like, so I thought I would give them a go (price is half what it states on the web-site). They arrived by return post on Thursday, but I was not able to collect them until this morning from the local Royal Mail sorting office ~ when I eventually got in: Police would not allow anyone in because they were removing a bloke who wanted to pay by cheque, and was abusing the staff.

I got my shoes home, and put them on about half ten, its now twelve hours later and they have not left my feet, I've driven to Leicester, been shopping, driven to Kettering, done some jobs, and am now back at home with them still on, and they are still very comfortable. I'm impressed!



SOLOVAIR MADE IN ENGLAND

Happy Birthday FTP

Today FTP is two years old. He has done 31,000 miles without giving us any trouble, and has been a pleasure to travel with.

Yesterday, he met up with a distant relation in the Co-op Carpark, and so I had chance to take some photos comparing the appearance of the Perodua Myvi with a Dihatsu Sirion.

















I also noted that the dash designs are very similar.

FTP Gets a Wash and Wax

I am not a great one for washing cars, perhaps once a year whether they need it or not (although most years I forget). However, with FTPs second birthday coming up I thought I would treat him to a car wash. I have not been through a car wash myself since I was about 7 years old, and I must say I did not like being taken along by the conveyor without being in control~ but FTP does look better for all my stress!

Must say Rose Royce make it seem much less stressful, and should help you cope with the pictures of FTPs carwash:
















All clean, apart from the inner door sills! + suppose FTP should have his first vacuum after two years.