tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33268379281819510032024-03-19T03:03:26.631+00:00TO BALDLY GO...The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.comBlogger768125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-86240139833083110422024-02-18T09:57:00.001+00:002024-02-18T09:57:20.328+00:002402.18 JORVIK TWENTYFOUR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznbIs1XlfeLum8ubDLzhD2bTgo-zyxu9ZNR5iaFzshzv33Vbema5UULBfZN_tLOrYV9LclqiNKjvxcvN2mfvmFzvLr4vM4U9PgHuH9Wwogrbf_k7zF3pjpoe2pXSiYGv3Xc6YbK96BXapoNFZqhaGdquOKGtZv4R1XjBG1JFClHeaOI8YmO7hcsQjw0E/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznbIs1XlfeLum8ubDLzhD2bTgo-zyxu9ZNR5iaFzshzv33Vbema5UULBfZN_tLOrYV9LclqiNKjvxcvN2mfvmFzvLr4vM4U9PgHuH9Wwogrbf_k7zF3pjpoe2pXSiYGv3Xc6YbK96BXapoNFZqhaGdquOKGtZv4R1XjBG1JFClHeaOI8YmO7hcsQjw0E/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Hotel was booked last year, train sorted last month, we're ready to march on York. This Northman is coming to Jorvik.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">The dog knew something was going on, he wasn't happy although he's had some fun in store with my daughter.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It was all set for last Monday. We travelled direct to York (instead of the messy changes in Leeds like last year) which was easier and arrived without incident. Had a bit of trouble finding the front door to the hotel (this year we'd booked in at a Premier Inn) but managed to get to the right place. We had planned to stow our suitcase until after check in but the nice lady on reception let us check in early. The room was a regular Premier Inn one which was clean and functional.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRK8XBjbAY78_SqMvsQmFTFR0GVg23PTqrlSzqvFR8JFtpGKynd6RqiKRpZ2bJ1bSehcUTJrS9HdWLkn93HpulBaiqxL6Wok7Ursd9YvxayQJEIO95_vAa_b91ujKz7UcYjKmzkCEkRo/s1600/1000008389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRK8XBjbAY78_SqMvsQmFTFR0GVg23PTqrlSzqvFR8JFtpGKynd6RqiKRpZ2bJ1bSehcUTJrS9HdWLkn93HpulBaiqxL6Wok7Ursd9YvxayQJEIO95_vAa_b91ujKz7UcYjKmzkCEkRo/s1600/1000008389.jpg" width="298" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So.... York.... Vikings.... Historical.... What's not to love about this wonderful city? Our county's capital and so full of things that make it special. We're here for the Jorvik Viking Festival of course.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Because we're on a budget we come at the beginning of the festival week which means we don't get to experience the big stuff but, for me, it's a chance to emerse myself in the festival atmos.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There were displays at the Viking encampment on Parliament Street, seemed like less than last year but still a great place to start. I particularly enjoyed the guy who was doing the wood turning.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The only problem I have with the event is that it feels like it's mainly geared towards kids. I'd love to see more music and evening events for all the grown ups. Maybe next year they'll think of that? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">If you ever find yourself in York then (as I remember saying last year) then the Valhalla bar is a must. Once again we spent loads of time in here.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ZuOaUkhKz_GLnuvInwPywtBJB5pT3zsT9bz1bfhbbFYZWJb6Fs8hLCpWlbgnzVwzMu3uH8YVCGAjeq53T06JuxNLOukBcyLD-XKwFAIu8qXHDECOjuSyhlkE_n0wFK9vNVhNzMz21E/s1600/1000008385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2081" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24ZuOaUkhKz_GLnuvInwPywtBJB5pT3zsT9bz1bfhbbFYZWJb6Fs8hLCpWlbgnzVwzMu3uH8YVCGAjeq53T06JuxNLOukBcyLD-XKwFAIu8qXHDECOjuSyhlkE_n0wFK9vNVhNzMz21E/s1600/1000008385.jpg" width="302" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The streets of York are dripping with character and history and is teaming with tourists all year round, quite a lot of tat is available for them but if you are savvy there are some really quirky shops around. Last year we visited the Barley Hall, this year we visited the <a href="https://www.merchantshallyork.org/" target="_blank">Merchant Adventurers' Hall</a> for a bit of history.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Before we left I treated myself to something I'd wanted for a long time - a board game. Now hear me out, the game is Hnefatafl - an ancient table top game from the Viking age and a variety of game that was enjoyed across Northern Europe. Another ancient game popular in the Viking age was Kvatrutafl which was a version of backgammon, something I've recently learned how to play (my paternal grandfather played). I've been playing both on apps on my phone for a while. I can't wait to play Hnefatafl in real life now I finally have my own set.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhd5NdIN3vR75UA5Jbo2G-DK0A6XsSzgvQ9GlZF9Pi4k80TVxRlOqfv2IbJRsCqKUzkS2jumrVc0rdZJyRLaw3fjnX-BgvS9cEfcTP82UjkF_2g_JP2r3OAPFGoXKlBnUFu72jVObXVU/s1600/1000008391.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhd5NdIN3vR75UA5Jbo2G-DK0A6XsSzgvQ9GlZF9Pi4k80TVxRlOqfv2IbJRsCqKUzkS2jumrVc0rdZJyRLaw3fjnX-BgvS9cEfcTP82UjkF_2g_JP2r3OAPFGoXKlBnUFu72jVObXVU/s1600/1000008391.jpg" width="302" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The trip, of course, came to a end all too soon and the train awaited to take us back home. I'm already planning next year.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0York, UK53.9614205 -1.073910825.651186663821157 -36.2301608 82.271654336178841 34.0823392tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-29011449633145428662024-02-09T09:30:00.003+00:002024-02-18T11:54:00.631+00:002402.09 THE LOST CELTS<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCk0QSyNmFQ6VG6dstXJE79cJPgRZTAVGDcgm5HEfO7o3LdDgeLzq8rHXygGv8Z6pSoafk0VljNvn5t0sDSSzI8pFIo-ySncoQOx4k43oPP5pJUfCISQPWq2Fw9DGQG40PRZTPVhn13nSqm7HugVJyF0aS830t7eojAdIt1fNVIzWIDVUlFoUtJ1f_ruc/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCk0QSyNmFQ6VG6dstXJE79cJPgRZTAVGDcgm5HEfO7o3LdDgeLzq8rHXygGv8Z6pSoafk0VljNvn5t0sDSSzI8pFIo-ySncoQOx4k43oPP5pJUfCISQPWq2Fw9DGQG40PRZTPVhn13nSqm7HugVJyF0aS830t7eojAdIt1fNVIzWIDVUlFoUtJ1f_ruc/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div>I wanted to write this down as a way of clarifying what has been swimming about in my head in a way of making sense of it all.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">My beliefs are sat firmly in the Nordic camp but I've always been very Celt-curious. </span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This probably stems from my love of the proudly celtic nation, Cymru (Wales), which has a special place within me. But it's more than that, I live in an area that was once home to one of the biggest Celt tribes in the British Isles - the Brigantes. The origin of Yorkshire's name comes from the old Brythonic name "Eborakon" which probably means 'the place for yew trees'.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Unfortunately Queen Cartimandua was loyal to the Roman Empire and the majority of the pre-invasion culture was lost. But it cannot be denied that there was a celtic kingdom that, apart from some clues from placenames, is pretty much lost.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There are two Brigante forts close to me, one in my home village (which is hidden away by modern housing) and another that is available to the public in the form of a park.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jT-GyoUIwJ3nKWawCPBX8CXBYfm7DMBVhqpIuSxmVsxmXUmE6eYTcnnYoonnj1NathINCObZrO6DKzD2lmzb39jert-JGbFw4iKoBvCXvGyRT_77O5_eQg0A3O2PJm2Hkh-2sA7dN-Y/s1600/1000008051.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jT-GyoUIwJ3nKWawCPBX8CXBYfm7DMBVhqpIuSxmVsxmXUmE6eYTcnnYoonnj1NathINCObZrO6DKzD2lmzb39jert-JGbFw4iKoBvCXvGyRT_77O5_eQg0A3O2PJm2Hkh-2sA7dN-Y/w320-h320/1000008051.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMWssi53HawhM4tJbOLeuADje4JXWW0zgaT9qvX6q-EUlIoYLJkTKyIL_pASO9sOUO5iYoeS9w0znTab_tJ5-DbVcqUCL8DLKlhqLoEzcyYdcKiDgQQRmGMFqHvxdRNH5gbPNa1KzScA/s1600/1000008052.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMWssi53HawhM4tJbOLeuADje4JXWW0zgaT9qvX6q-EUlIoYLJkTKyIL_pASO9sOUO5iYoeS9w0znTab_tJ5-DbVcqUCL8DLKlhqLoEzcyYdcKiDgQQRmGMFqHvxdRNH5gbPNa1KzScA/w320-h320/1000008052.png" title="" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Then, of course, my love of the Celtic nation of Cymru. I've always been interested in the Welsh culture and embraced it. I love the language and customs and even try and pick up a few phrases on Duolingo. But recently I've wanted to learn more about the mythology, something probably shared with my lost celts. It starts with a few podcasts which has led me to buying a copy of The Mabinogion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliLkJh5h67CrzCpCZ7j-OsgD2NzK_9-TuJbPMr5zM4_69BY4JWkK_dpXrs2n6TtMzeEMgdM9f9lWGkXRqHHB7OSCPysGYGBHMzFHKnPfvcMPsy5JU4bSW_SfDGa8ADSPi6EfMSK7p_6k/s1600/1000008054.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliLkJh5h67CrzCpCZ7j-OsgD2NzK_9-TuJbPMr5zM4_69BY4JWkK_dpXrs2n6TtMzeEMgdM9f9lWGkXRqHHB7OSCPysGYGBHMzFHKnPfvcMPsy5JU4bSW_SfDGa8ADSPi6EfMSK7p_6k/s1600/1000008054.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">My journey down the celtic rabbit hole is just beginning and that's without connecting with the Celtic gods.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Hail Ceridwen</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Hail Aeron</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>...for starters</b></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Eczar;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-48798107365359437922024-01-23T17:33:00.001+00:002024-01-23T17:33:18.682+00:002401.24 THE NEXT GENERATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHpGEBfsEQpjZ7CQoJHOnz6HPl2RT3nbLbdeHlUb7kYMLg4Nthe0AJnPUO3SWHRBFQmh2UNbdKy_hUJfntR70XPPJ6LeNKhHqcixSTaUVXBCS5LJ-yJOYmdkXWHi3_EAFICX02pGPjHDOeNSX4mxHgtv7DHzaACuG96-cpsTlL6zY3y8bAkdlxgwXqj0/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHpGEBfsEQpjZ7CQoJHOnz6HPl2RT3nbLbdeHlUb7kYMLg4Nthe0AJnPUO3SWHRBFQmh2UNbdKy_hUJfntR70XPPJ6LeNKhHqcixSTaUVXBCS5LJ-yJOYmdkXWHi3_EAFICX02pGPjHDOeNSX4mxHgtv7DHzaACuG96-cpsTlL6zY3y8bAkdlxgwXqj0/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(3).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Our lives are full of milestones, points in our lives that map out our very existance. When we meet the love of our lives, the birth of our children, the arrival of a beloved pet. Of course these are just some of the positives - this is what I want to concentrate on today...<span><a name='more'></a></span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">You see I have news, probably the biggest news I've had to convey in over 20 years. This year I will become a grandfather when my youngest daughter <span style="text-align: left;">gives birth to her first child.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ULOTOVyOj54UXwyMpme-u7gXYkJ7TM_nSSImEAUdajkZNhhwnh8mUwrr4tZ6DzYFDTdJEHZJfRw6YzN2rXArblbWlCsKnJHuoLs_fZAt4OZe0RAxgPpwWlz0ZSIYBmsMBlQ8ArT2YSsNdZyB65z93oYP5Z1b5tdD24UiNsdgEOPNGsL8wOXDrXO-2KA/s1752/Illustration20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ULOTOVyOj54UXwyMpme-u7gXYkJ7TM_nSSImEAUdajkZNhhwnh8mUwrr4tZ6DzYFDTdJEHZJfRw6YzN2rXArblbWlCsKnJHuoLs_fZAt4OZe0RAxgPpwWlz0ZSIYBmsMBlQ8ArT2YSsNdZyB65z93oYP5Z1b5tdD24UiNsdgEOPNGsL8wOXDrXO-2KA/s320/Illustration20.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Honestly, I never saw this day coming but I couldn't be more delighted with the news.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-59273658253634874002024-01-10T10:24:00.002+00:002024-02-18T11:54:45.618+00:002401.10 VIRUSES AND LOST DAYS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HMb6gmtznANZDwVoqgqgB-Fb8h8RlkHimykQY3RbxXpJm3M6F4HT5G6sekXc0_i2JTsQimn4X6O63qD_ZH-f2wLoRazSSCdtX8sQLRLOGWlTDPBaOMztc3AvX1sSoOglDFOJO43OBW04nwfV_padytgijdzWOmw66CDhiuD4o7oy6JfhSpfIeBmRDvc/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HMb6gmtznANZDwVoqgqgB-Fb8h8RlkHimykQY3RbxXpJm3M6F4HT5G6sekXc0_i2JTsQimn4X6O63qD_ZH-f2wLoRazSSCdtX8sQLRLOGWlTDPBaOMztc3AvX1sSoOglDFOJO43OBW04nwfV_padytgijdzWOmw66CDhiuD4o7oy6JfhSpfIeBmRDvc/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Permanent Marker"; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Since New Year I've been floored by a virus that has kept me off work and, for the most part, in bed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It started for me on New Year's Eve with a tickle in my throat. The next day I was downed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I spent the next few days laid up. I don't have time off work often (my sickness record is pretty good) so when I call in sick it's a big deal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Yesterday was my first day back, sponsored by 'Fisherman's Freind' (other menthol sweets are available.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">threads.net/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">X.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-15116376416328728882024-01-01T15:00:00.001+00:002024-01-01T15:00:00.136+00:002401.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnHr3ZRLQcLuNl0DGyNWz8saP3zyLu4WaHOSV_vLzzzAjF2sGGze1uWGfukp7wlothNj_yvoIyYwZEV_RYRFj9o1BDbayrVx7e18oovnPxaLwF36DZIKX4hyphenhyphenyrPqTIZkwYDspbngNo5BTgdzHiigkS2VwHJNrVdfMcJc_FGwKSpnmdaCHg8kgwcLn8Z4/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnHr3ZRLQcLuNl0DGyNWz8saP3zyLu4WaHOSV_vLzzzAjF2sGGze1uWGfukp7wlothNj_yvoIyYwZEV_RYRFj9o1BDbayrVx7e18oovnPxaLwF36DZIKX4hyphenhyphenyrPqTIZkwYDspbngNo5BTgdzHiigkS2VwHJNrVdfMcJc_FGwKSpnmdaCHg8kgwcLn8Z4/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Another year in the bag. It's time to look at my 3 targets I set for myself and to look at the year ahead. Before we look of that let's look at my Yule experience.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So this year's celebration passed without incident which was welcome. We spent time with our children and of course Magnus, our Yorkshire Terrier. There was frivolity and emotion with feasting abound. I returned to work for a couple of days (it seems the same people get the whole period off whilst some of us always work) which kind of split the season into two parts.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ko0LeYQta3qyaSt3Moh2cR0dawH-9FCImgp3JXvo9UAHoXIwrEKbP0EUmlygJiwqnYj-_R0UqQPLFfMifMSraGedI6gqBjnp_3K11Q4ceeQjb9-lJ4RMcIQOf3MHF_MsFUO4KPCTMvE/s1600/1000007337.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ko0LeYQta3qyaSt3Moh2cR0dawH-9FCImgp3JXvo9UAHoXIwrEKbP0EUmlygJiwqnYj-_R0UqQPLFfMifMSraGedI6gqBjnp_3K11Q4ceeQjb9-lJ4RMcIQOf3MHF_MsFUO4KPCTMvE/s1600/1000007337.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrgpEar_l11_EzoEjdudVV4Fw3A7suWyDPq1g-3IV7jVpLPJsqJAeQK8gwzym_zGj8XraqeMm4ZTz4tP02A7IRujxMr0xBuCdrQxWJ3quRwPKf3K-E5iKoGKGtAsN7LFqrkKMl_dXMU0/s1600/1000007338.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrgpEar_l11_EzoEjdudVV4Fw3A7suWyDPq1g-3IV7jVpLPJsqJAeQK8gwzym_zGj8XraqeMm4ZTz4tP02A7IRujxMr0xBuCdrQxWJ3quRwPKf3K-E5iKoGKGtAsN7LFqrkKMl_dXMU0/s1600/1000007338.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><u>Let's look at last year's goals;</u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">1. The old cycling chestnut, I want to do more recreational cycling. Hopefully in the summer I'll get out more if the old covid lungs let me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><i>Absolute fail, although I've continued to cycle to work most days I've not gotten out recreationally. I've been dogged by injury and health issues (those dodgy lungs again).</i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRL2y76r58DcEXAitL_A9kxXEBO55a2s3CPuUr3wQoC7czK89EZslNQS6bTM4p6THZaMzce8rgKhu60kwErZBwhl7zsJ_P-7ugezQlmt6aZL3xT-FOcMN3rJWy-Fl6UTKK_ULriMP14UQ/s1600/1000007321.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRL2y76r58DcEXAitL_A9kxXEBO55a2s3CPuUr3wQoC7czK89EZslNQS6bTM4p6THZaMzce8rgKhu60kwErZBwhl7zsJ_P-7ugezQlmt6aZL3xT-FOcMN3rJWy-Fl6UTKK_ULriMP14UQ/s1600/1000007321.png" title="" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2. Make time (budget allowing) to socialise and get out. Visit more places and do more things. Enjoy your time with family and friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><i>A visit to York and some great nights out happened this year but could be better? Absolutly. Increasing costs limit what I can do but that doesn't mean I don't want more. Success? OK. But could do better.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">3. Spend more time in quiet contemplation. Learn to take some time for yourself. Avoid wasting time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><i>My spiritual journey continues and I do find quiet time for contemplation although I'm not done yet. And this Yule I even aquired some runes. Pass.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So, next year's goals... Probably similar again, maybe expanding on them. Here goes -</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>1. Let's get cycling recreationally again, if that means getting help for my health issues then so be it. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>2. Reboot the blog. It needs better content, I'm happy that the design is OK (I redid that recently) but the content sucks - sorry about that. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>3. Give 30 minutes a week to quiet contemplation, maybe learning about runes or re-reading the Eddas. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2024 promises to be a big year for our family. There's a lot coming up which I'll hopefully share with you here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So that leaves me just to wish you all a happy 2024 and let's hope our ruling elite don't destroy the planet or sell it before we get through to the end.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><div style="text-align: center;">Check out my social media</div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt" style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-18603168343075478042023-12-25T15:00:00.002+00:002023-12-25T15:00:00.156+00:002312.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq32RNMtIsbjx5QbB4T9DePRIGHsheOsgQaQ4_KvFLA0Cwnn5umGqX1InOBz8X-tJoWmKoV22HivSzgyte3PojXrGwVG1DyRzl624hx11mNhNHKqxus2VoFYhkaId-aqWUOAYseKApW_Nbzlg8fXmw3GgVJsZ-yC1HayDVLzXzIbbk5XvW5qi8-SwUIc/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq32RNMtIsbjx5QbB4T9DePRIGHsheOsgQaQ4_KvFLA0Cwnn5umGqX1InOBz8X-tJoWmKoV22HivSzgyte3PojXrGwVG1DyRzl624hx11mNhNHKqxus2VoFYhkaId-aqWUOAYseKApW_Nbzlg8fXmw3GgVJsZ-yC1HayDVLzXzIbbk5XvW5qi8-SwUIc/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Another year in the bag and the big news is that I didn't die (well this would be the definition of irony if I fail to survive the next week). The shitstorm continues with high prices and low wages ravaging those of us on below average wages but we struggle through. The world is full of war and climate distasters, I feel so bad for those affected. Maybe one day the power hungry megalomaniacs will get their heads out of their (or each others') arses and work to solve these solvable problems although I'm not holding my breath.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So, as we feast on this day of Yule with my family around me I am reminded that I'm truely a rich man in a real sense. We are together around the table and I for one am thankful to the Gods for helping me get to this point.<span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Remembering…</u></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">After the previous years this year feels like it's been fairly uneventful, at least near me. Worldwide there have been wars, massacres, death, distasters and many dark events. On the homefront our leaders continue to asset strip the country to line their pockets before (hopefully) being turfed out of government next year. The King was coronated for which I was supposed to receive a medal but it has yet to appear.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Happy About…</u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I got a new bike earlier this year, the plan was to have a light summer bike to compliment my usual communter ride. Unfortunatly the older steed suffered catastrophic damage due to some mishap with the chainset and if off the road indefinitely. On the plus side the new bike is performing really well and a am more than happy using it year round.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyye6fpRb5n6yyixRSuNwKcffskZ41-qsfgr51dZk1eoVH6tzWsnjii7AmSXqpOOB8UwtE6IX9CO2ttGelGPFGX72gxrm7DYUVd5UTjbl27lryj73-FDnTprQetbVM7TxHLAaygftN4Q/s1600/1000007153.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyye6fpRb5n6yyixRSuNwKcffskZ41-qsfgr51dZk1eoVH6tzWsnjii7AmSXqpOOB8UwtE6IX9CO2ttGelGPFGX72gxrm7DYUVd5UTjbl27lryj73-FDnTprQetbVM7TxHLAaygftN4Q/s1600/1000007153.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I'm also really happy about myself too. I long since stopped hiding my inner self away and now feel empowered.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Lastly, I upgraded my phone and got one with a pen so I can doodle when I'm out and about. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Worried About…</u></b></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I'm trying not to worry too much, positive thinking and all that. I do worry about the state of the world and what we humans continue to do. Money, and the lack of it of course - there are things to pay for and not a lot of cash knocking about (for me anyway).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Annoyed About…</u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">People's attitudes readly piss me off. There are so many that spew hate out against others. Why? People are different - we should celebrate that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">What really boils my piss is that homelessness exists today in a country where there are people that can afford multiple houses. They need help, it's not impossible and it frustrates me that society doesn't want to do more.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Looking Forward To…</u></b></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Next year could possibly be the biggest years in my life, I can say more than that at the moment but there a lot going on.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Morticia is 50 next year, a massive deal. We've booked for Wales as always and we plan to take the kids and the dog.<br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Loving... </u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">My family, my dog. I also love my drawing, its purely selfish and it's great therapy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa_xtwdszSyDFMPG9EFG6_7_qEaleIxxJa9CumKVHa40qgmkjnDyLhVjNU59qe5XIVvc0EG3TH79JR_67-tAwSIczQpEucy_SK1a77VzJ5LX5lBJK3cFIxzlLzaEu2m_rHtL4bMik7MRrBH3QHNS2_akiJsR0HNcCHR5bQGsNPkzX6vReVnF3QCNmVlA/s2400/228%20comp%20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa_xtwdszSyDFMPG9EFG6_7_qEaleIxxJa9CumKVHa40qgmkjnDyLhVjNU59qe5XIVvc0EG3TH79JR_67-tAwSIczQpEucy_SK1a77VzJ5LX5lBJK3cFIxzlLzaEu2m_rHtL4bMik7MRrBH3QHNS2_akiJsR0HNcCHR5bQGsNPkzX6vReVnF3QCNmVlA/s320/228%20comp%20.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I publish a weekly comic strip online, it might not be the best but I really do enjoy the process.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What We’ve Been Up To…</u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Been to Wales twice this year, the first time we took Magnus on his first doggie holiday. I say every year about how much I love the place and nothing has changed in that regard.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMMEV2WSUDFX7kp7sUdQZ6EOiWHq3ryct8o0Ho5yTzN6dYDbBXjTGx_tUzxv0-xdppbjcYCOd8UmWyq3qXc1cxzwCFJlc8sD3fLOHR06waDk1iDiBE8VotTJUZImE41s-7sCRqryA27E/s1600/1000007154.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMMEV2WSUDFX7kp7sUdQZ6EOiWHq3ryct8o0Ho5yTzN6dYDbBXjTGx_tUzxv0-xdppbjcYCOd8UmWyq3qXc1cxzwCFJlc8sD3fLOHR06waDk1iDiBE8VotTJUZImE41s-7sCRqryA27E/s1600/1000007154.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">In February we went to York for the Jorvik Viking Festival, we plan on returning again next year.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>What I’m Watching</u></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>I've been watching the classic US police drama from the 90s - early 00s - '</span><span>NYPD Blue' or as I saw it, the redemption of</span> <span arial="" google="" nowrap="" sans-serif-medium="" sans-serif="" sans="" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;" text-wrap:="">Andy Sipowicz.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUJDB9ePfCldqpp1e5Aw3k2TLIxaRcqgwUttyt6YWboaYaLBAR9H4dXbIoAngvEBSZDgO23yWGSpEFYRSXShb6bk0XQ1XkAoT3p4ZAGUXx9ZVlmZJVoz5VypMOXzc1tsz1R5tPCxEbnE/s1600/1000007155.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUJDB9ePfCldqpp1e5Aw3k2TLIxaRcqgwUttyt6YWboaYaLBAR9H4dXbIoAngvEBSZDgO23yWGSpEFYRSXShb6bk0XQ1XkAoT3p4ZAGUXx9ZVlmZJVoz5VypMOXzc1tsz1R5tPCxEbnE/s1600/1000007155.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There's very little new comedy on the TV at the moment. 'Ghosts' comes to an end this yule season, it's done really well and even has a sucessful American version.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Then there's Star Trek. Picard was a televisual event of a lifetime that properly concluded the 'Next Generation'. Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks proved that this is indeed a golden age for Star Trek.</span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54fwkMNcJXnIe4CJ6JeDyNFPwd0hzvWz79rMsHMfSvPsvyh0z1Bs5hRFgsLXxaIkzNEq853I0M9TmRtY_45i6fUyZ4WcfPxJwnuT6gfOXTOrMIHdkzE3_ZfZF8YOf3_Y0vbcNpIMIdBU/s1600/1000007152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54fwkMNcJXnIe4CJ6JeDyNFPwd0hzvWz79rMsHMfSvPsvyh0z1Bs5hRFgsLXxaIkzNEq853I0M9TmRtY_45i6fUyZ4WcfPxJwnuT6gfOXTOrMIHdkzE3_ZfZF8YOf3_Y0vbcNpIMIdBU/s1600/1000007152.jpg" width="292" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I Need To Do…</u></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I need to continue to explore myself and enjoy to the fullest extent this stage in my life. Great things are ahead and I must be ready.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>No one in my circle was lost this year, which at my stage of life is an achievement in itself. I'm going to go now and feast, drink and be merry. So I'll wish you a very good Yule, the best of times for the festive period and </span><span style="background-color: white;">as I always say, let's raise a glass, goblet or horn of your favourite beverage....</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><p style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Cheers ! Iechyd da ! Skål ! makien cheres ! Na zdrowie</p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Sláinte ! 干杯 ! Proost ! Prost ! Будем здоровы</p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><b><u>YULE FELICITATIONS ONE AND ALL!</u></b></p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-65391445518402865822023-12-12T20:25:00.001+00:002023-12-12T20:25:17.041+00:002312.12 THE GREAT FESTIVE TV ROUNDUP <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEADgRGL5oqbbpXTDtECUPJcQDEEUb9qBCisAwSZPhah07FOm0R_VAT4oVf9jFckw-05AzLRVDahh-AwjCCJUsMZPXToWdkl6nFdwXzZcCBLUNyp-6ktSZJa4Bl_AzacF1hl5EYBBqcAhWI9v1IcBWCWFG5QulO-ESpC-5poo9xzt86YF2-NDERemkRE/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEADgRGL5oqbbpXTDtECUPJcQDEEUb9qBCisAwSZPhah07FOm0R_VAT4oVf9jFckw-05AzLRVDahh-AwjCCJUsMZPXToWdkl6nFdwXzZcCBLUNyp-6ktSZJa4Bl_AzacF1hl5EYBBqcAhWI9v1IcBWCWFG5QulO-ESpC-5poo9xzt86YF2-NDERemkRE/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Usually at this time of year I buy the festive edition of the TV listings magazine and pick out my festive favourites. This year I've decided to forego the expense (and they are getting expensive) but doing a bit of internet research instead. So here is my 2023 guide to the Yuletide televisual event.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">As usual... here's the rules;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">No films (although feature length 'made for TV' are fine).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Festive fayre is preferred but not essential.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Nothing that would ordinarily be in the schedule unless it's a festive special. It's strictly my taste so you might find it heavy on the comedy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>13th December </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Bad Education Christmas Special</b>, BBC3</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Jack Whitehall's sitcom returns for a festive special.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>16th December</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Blood Actually</b>, Gold</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Mildly amusing comedy series.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>18th December </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>QI XL Christmas Special</b>, BBC2</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Who doesn't love QI?</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Live at the Apollo Christmas Special</b>, BBC2</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Quality stand up comedy.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Richard Osman's Festive House of Games</b>, BBC2 (and for next four consecutive days)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>19th December </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Christmas Special</b> - Sky Max</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special</b> - Alibi</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">(this one's for Morticia)</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>21st December</u> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Christmas Special</b>, Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Joe Lycett's Late Night Lycett Christmas Special</b> - Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This could go anywhere, Lycett is nuts!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>22nd December </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Would I Lie to You? at Christmas</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Festive staple.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Last Leg of Christmas, </b>Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Topical seasonal fun.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqT4PuCja0AtifkSnoVAs7GtIIvwnkRaNrezqGnO9oZmKWBkGxxyIdTiIlo0OiPUFWnjGFLBxekVowOKcROWXagEQf9_LTmPpC7OzYUwlAlQzVD5fArf4-G5aMEAexKN2Pla5pmmOUA9dSQ8pCRLOxRFP2nc01dbw-ocRXSy-OiGL1SNyc_vf0996hW4/s1628/BlogFrames.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqT4PuCja0AtifkSnoVAs7GtIIvwnkRaNrezqGnO9oZmKWBkGxxyIdTiIlo0OiPUFWnjGFLBxekVowOKcROWXagEQf9_LTmPpC7OzYUwlAlQzVD5fArf4-G5aMEAexKN2Pla5pmmOUA9dSQ8pCRLOxRFP2nc01dbw-ocRXSy-OiGL1SNyc_vf0996hW4/s320/BlogFrames.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Christmas Eve</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Beyond Paradise</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Seasonal edition of the ' Death in Paradise' spin off. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>A Ghost Story For Christmas: Lot No.249</b>, BBC2</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Mark Gatiss’ adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle short story.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Repair Shop at Christmas</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Great Christmas Bake Off</b> - Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Heist Before Christmas</b>, Sky Max</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall star in this Christmas special.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Not Going Out</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">100th episode of Lee Mack's sitcom. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Christmas Day</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Surprisingly fun entertainment quiz.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Doctor Who</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The Christmas Special is back, complete with a new <b>Doctor.</b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Ghosts</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Final ever episode of the supernatural sitcom.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Death In Paradise</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The original light-hearted mystery drama.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The 1% Club Christmas Special</b>, ITV</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Festive edition of the addictive quiz.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Masked Singer Christmas special</b>, ITV</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Guilty pleasure. "take it off!"</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tNNW7WfJHJQNl5mZzjpWs2DSlPGAp9BBqRsywK5breqO1HSliMCiKPWCKrUhM9BC-ajukQcMmbnlClRrULYXm3mwQS8K7A2JS_WM-1xqK0PYnIqa6LNYRyfbC58mw5UYludrde9_bWyoTk3TCxcRlpGDBTa0ACXkQ7Lz34EL0ZRqzgmV8RwB3GNzJao/s1628/BlogFrames%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tNNW7WfJHJQNl5mZzjpWs2DSlPGAp9BBqRsywK5breqO1HSliMCiKPWCKrUhM9BC-ajukQcMmbnlClRrULYXm3mwQS8K7A2JS_WM-1xqK0PYnIqa6LNYRyfbC58mw5UYludrde9_bWyoTk3TCxcRlpGDBTa0ACXkQ7Lz34EL0ZRqzgmV8RwB3GNzJao/s320/BlogFrames%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Boxing Day</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2023</b>, Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Jimmy Carr presents the big quiz.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>29th December </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Men Up</b>, BBC1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Drama about five ordinary Welshmen who take part in the trial of a new drug which would later become Viagra.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>New Year's Eve </b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Last Leg of the Year, </b>Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Review of the year's news.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>New Year's Day</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Mr Bates vs. The Post Office</b>, ITV (and for next 3 consecutive days)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Drama about the Post Office computer system scandal.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Great New Year Bake Off</b>, Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>2nd January</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Taskmaster New Year Treat</b>, Ch4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Special edition of the comedy task show. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Streaming Highlights</b></span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE45GkuWAZqPrfNWWb91tUpCaZkFyrC4VaC5UTxWYr_VMj8bbGmFRM7mLb6Py6oaGD0Ns83N43VqRNXkZZesxMw47wboalpjYZ0z6Elp1j9-M5O7eDfVQoPxosgYKhL0NLf74pfCKbvLIu4Uf3RquCqaYeGCftOwWRHBheFh_S7eZv36PsH90rqds9wXE/s1628/BlogFrames%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE45GkuWAZqPrfNWWb91tUpCaZkFyrC4VaC5UTxWYr_VMj8bbGmFRM7mLb6Py6oaGD0Ns83N43VqRNXkZZesxMw47wboalpjYZ0z6Elp1j9-M5O7eDfVQoPxosgYKhL0NLf74pfCKbvLIu4Uf3RquCqaYeGCftOwWRHBheFh_S7eZv36PsH90rqds9wXE/s320/BlogFrames%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">You can't ignore the streaming services, here's my pick from there...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Winter King</b>, ITVx</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Retelling of the Arthurian legends that takes place in Post-Roman Dark Age Britain.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Best. Christmas. Ever!</b>, Netflix</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Romantic comedy where a boastful holiday newsletter is sent that makes an old friend feel like a lump of coal.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>EXmas</b>, Amazon Prime</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">When a guy decides to surprise his family by traveling home for Christmas, he is shocked to discover them already celebrating with an unexpected guest.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Dashing Through the Snow</b>, Disney+</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="kb0PBd cvP2Ce jGGQ5e" data-snf="x5WNvb" data-snhf="0" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; contain: layout paint; flex: 0 0 auto; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;"><div class="yuRUbf" style="line-height: 1.58;"><span jsaction="rcuQ6b:npT2md;PYDNKe:bLV6Bd;mLt3mc" jscontroller="msmzHf" style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwjSpNyG1oqDAxWbU0EAHUFvD0sQFnoECDkQAQ" href="https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/movies/dashing-through-the-snow/6oiqPXqHXrjp" jsname="UWckNb" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/movies/dashing-through-the-snow/6oiqPXqHXrjp&ved=2ahUKEwjSpNyG1oqDAxWbU0EAHUFvD0sQFnoECDkQAQ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #1a0dab; outline: 0px;"><div class="notranslate TbwUpd YmJh3d NJjxre iUh30 ojE3Fb" style="align-items: center; display: flex; left: 0px; line-height: 1.3; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-size-adjust: none; top: 0px;"><span class="H9lube" style="align-items: center; background-color: #f1f3f4; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 237, 239); display: inline-flex; height: 26px; justify-content: center; margin-right: 12px; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;"><div aria-hidden="true" class="eqA2re NjwKYd Vwoesf" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="XNo5Ab" data-atf="4" data-csiid="30" src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="display: block; height: 18px; width: 18px;" /></div></span><div class="GTRloc"><span class="VuuXrf" style="color: #202124; display: block; line-height: 20px; text-wrap: nowrap;">Disney+</span><div class="byrV5b" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"><cite class="qLRx3b tjvcx GvPZzd cHaqb" role="text" style="color: #4d5156; font-style: normal; line-height: 18px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap;">https://www.disneyplus.com<span class="ylgVCe ob9lvb" role="text"> › en-gb › movies › dashi...</span></cite></div></div></div></a></span><div class="B6fmyf byrV5b Mg1HEd" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; height: auto; position: absolute; text-wrap: nowrap; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"><div class="TbwUpd YmJh3d iUh30 ojE3Fb" style="align-items: center; display: flex; line-height: 1.3; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none;"><span class="H9lube" style="align-items: center; background-color: #f1f3f4; border-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 237, 239); display: inline-flex; height: 26px; justify-content: center; margin-right: 12px; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;"><div class="eqA2re NjwKYd" style="height: 18px; margin-right: 0px; width: 18px;"></div></span><div class="GTRloc"><span class="VuuXrf" style="display: block; line-height: 20px;"></span><div class="byrV5b" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"><cite class="qLRx3b tjvcx GvPZzd cHaqb" role="text" style="color: #4d5156; font-style: normal; line-height: 18px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><span class="ylgVCe ob9lvb" role="text" style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"></span></cite></div></div></div><div class="csDOgf BCF2pd ezY6nb L48a4c" style="display: inline; height: 18px; margin-left: 8px; margin-top: 16px; position: relative; visibility: visible;"><div data-bsextraheight="0" data-frm="true" data-isdesktop="true" data-movewtractions="true" data-ved="2ahUKEwjSpNyG1oqDAxWbU0EAHUFvD0sQ2esEegQIORAJ" jscontroller="exgaYe" jsdata="l7Bhpb;_;CTqli4 cECq7c;_;CTqljQ"><div aria-label="About this result" class="iTPLzd rNSxBe lUn2nc" jsaction="RvIhPd" jsname="I3kE2c" role="button" style="cursor: pointer; left: 0px; line-height: 16px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-right: 12px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 28px; z-index: 1;" tabindex="0"><span class="D6lY4c mBswFe" jsname="czHhOd" style="border-radius: 11px; height: 22px; position: absolute; width: 22px;"><span class="xTFaxe z1asCe" jsname="Bil8Ae" style="color: #4d5156; display: inline-block; fill: currentcolor; font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large; height: 18px; line-height: 18px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 18px;"><svg focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M12 8c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2-2 .9-2 2 .9 2 2 2zm0 2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2zm0 6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2z"></path></svg></span></span></div><span data-ved="2ahUKEwjSpNyG1oqDAxWbU0EAHUFvD0sQh-4GegQIORAK" jsname="zOVa8" style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="kb0PBd cvP2Ce" data-sncf="1" data-snf="nke7rc" style="background-color: white; contain: layout paint; flex: 0 0 auto; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;"><div class="VwiC3b yXK7lf lVm3ye r025kc hJNv6b Hdw6tb" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 2; display: -webkit-box; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>A good-hearted man who has lost his faith in Christmas befriends a mysterious character named Nick.</i></span></div><div class="VwiC3b yXK7lf lVm3ye r025kc hJNv6b Hdw6tb" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 2; display: -webkit-box; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Family Switch</b>, Netflix</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">A family descends into chaos days before Christmas when a rare cosmic event causes the parents to swap bodies with their teenage kids.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Candy Cane Lane</b>, Amazon Prime</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Eddie Murphy stars in this festive offering. It's never going to be as good as" Trading Places".</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Genie</b>, Sky Cinema/Now TV</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Remake of " Bernard and the Genie"</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Your Christmas or Mine 2</b>, Amazon Prime </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Sequel to last year's rich family/ poor family romantic comedy.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Check out my social media<div>instagram.com/CaptainKirt</div><div>threads.net/CaptainKirt</div><div>bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</div><div>X.com/CaptainKirt</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-44042871428585461842023-11-27T09:37:00.001+00:002023-11-27T09:37:20.877+00:002311.27 WINTER POSTCARD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdBsZOkV7Ex5rMWC8l8SZzw8A7yazoFgF5GSQBGRL-cLVkGidf8LmFaX_0gisukFh_ju-DE4RIKpFGVKQh8QYialuR3WoPCNqXVRaGzQobmZEnG4Hj57zKe0xXZdY0f4vMIBM-buj6nJKNeTl4ckWYfO9BOuf8KKEPtdpMdC0TFLkyoUp1ZLWG1BUitM/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdBsZOkV7Ex5rMWC8l8SZzw8A7yazoFgF5GSQBGRL-cLVkGidf8LmFaX_0gisukFh_ju-DE4RIKpFGVKQh8QYialuR3WoPCNqXVRaGzQobmZEnG4Hj57zKe0xXZdY0f4vMIBM-buj6nJKNeTl4ckWYfO9BOuf8KKEPtdpMdC0TFLkyoUp1ZLWG1BUitM/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Everyone knows where I go every year. In fact I was there a couple of </span><span><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">months ago. So it may surprise people to learn that we are back so soon.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPtF61i5fVl4-IwCwzzXNz4LrQ4oOqjZT2uJeEcwzN0Ebbon2xwmQcdY6bDrufhpb-JyJAFqbU0_uQ5kwDORHkOpz68M8q5EmOyONrMwAJd2JnUjYWkU9yf3D_t4CE7AZUuwYvFOlLZsB0nv-Mmm2DvmKe1TZMjG_Xchj8CUUK2xwFJ-OpwQkE3P5pGc/s1080/IMG_1701076666392.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPtF61i5fVl4-IwCwzzXNz4LrQ4oOqjZT2uJeEcwzN0Ebbon2xwmQcdY6bDrufhpb-JyJAFqbU0_uQ5kwDORHkOpz68M8q5EmOyONrMwAJd2JnUjYWkU9yf3D_t4CE7AZUuwYvFOlLZsB0nv-Mmm2DvmKe1TZMjG_Xchj8CUUK2xwFJ-OpwQkE3P5pGc/s320/IMG_1701076666392.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>This trip has been planned for ages but I </span>decided to keep it quiet about it with some of my friends and family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>Now this isn't an ordinary trip, for one it isn't a holiday or anything like that. We came to celebrate a good friend's birthday party. Of course we relished </span>the oportunity to be in our "happy place" too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoaJCWVFZ7_3Tkl44foVwt8tPjiyUCoj562IRrsFF4KuZml3TKnuio85PEMP1dQ3hlwgz9KHXR6J53l0uT7437X9QntdnJevf8l39A62gsRWJBfDZNKbsJATcYgvg9QY3DlOplgeXIVPCZm-c87yQiUhcWpe9mNzirWB138MFEX-f00Cp9MTL-ehW1zc/s1080/IMG_1701076894486.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoaJCWVFZ7_3Tkl44foVwt8tPjiyUCoj562IRrsFF4KuZml3TKnuio85PEMP1dQ3hlwgz9KHXR6J53l0uT7437X9QntdnJevf8l39A62gsRWJBfDZNKbsJATcYgvg9QY3DlOplgeXIVPCZm-c87yQiUhcWpe9mNzirWB138MFEX-f00Cp9MTL-ehW1zc/s320/IMG_1701076894486.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Both our girls <span>were invited too but only the youngest could make the </span><span>trip with us. We set off early on Friday morning and did the usual journey arriving just after 2pm. We were staying in the usual caravan site (although it </span><span>was technically </span><span>closed to visitors, an arrangement had been made for party guests from </span><span>out of town). </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNUXCVjoa5Hijc3xObtHS3ww_yCYA9KjiotnTqapVvNj7aGvH-S1nUjHiWhpPKNZna0dMQ3IZZA6hqTdAw8WqOLAQk059sC86LQuFY2gillImhNtoWO8M_Y1Ed1mL6PdWZSJgEi4cA8lgYbnhn7xSCpOcZrw73nrHu45zUZ2hUn-JEzX4-59m-0bN_8I/s1080/IMG_1701077012103.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNUXCVjoa5Hijc3xObtHS3ww_yCYA9KjiotnTqapVvNj7aGvH-S1nUjHiWhpPKNZna0dMQ3IZZA6hqTdAw8WqOLAQk059sC86LQuFY2gillImhNtoWO8M_Y1Ed1mL6PdWZSJgEi4cA8lgYbnhn7xSCpOcZrw73nrHu45zUZ2hUn-JEzX4-59m-0bN_8I/s320/IMG_1701077012103.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The party was a joint 50th and 60th but because of the time of year was Christmas themed. We were treated to a Welsh folk band, Dafydd Pantrod a'i Fand, which I loved - I do love to hear the Welsh language even if my understanding is only level 3 Duolingo! We had a <span>brilliant time and felt </span><span>honoured to be invited.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyd2RuP70xoE3OSiJoo6CmQaDwkUF6P4emtDffdQdZkZb5FdOoe8FX9-_B05GqxTafQkfl0k_5xjKfVlQy0LQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We had recovery day before heading home today. I'm back at work tomorrow. it's also been a delight to see this place ready for the festive period, something I hope we will get to experience one day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We will be returning, the plan is to be here for Morticia's 50th birthday next year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I'll sign <span>off by saying Penblwydd Hapus to Sam and Carwyn and Nadolig Llawen to all my Welsh friends. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><div style="text-align: center;">Check out my social media</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0New Quay, UK52.215536000000007 -4.35908123.905302163821162 -39.515331 80.525769836178853 30.797169tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-6531435848805654982023-11-22T18:53:00.000+00:002023-11-22T18:53:15.515+00:002311.21 IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxShAU-udxHW1Rbl4wCKT3mcLQDV5o1c_11QjJtZfrCbdnweNbjMz1xdQsEUjZP0pyH64TNV8hMjWR39yDdu9AjV0pIe_T8r2PqL2sgB4rBRzwxO_YWS-RYCB6ke1wQ8rxQmD6q_6TOf2ncul1RG3gKVu74y7cl9dR1zI5dNIXGO4Xt9Xyu9om2vapNkE/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxShAU-udxHW1Rbl4wCKT3mcLQDV5o1c_11QjJtZfrCbdnweNbjMz1xdQsEUjZP0pyH64TNV8hMjWR39yDdu9AjV0pIe_T8r2PqL2sgB4rBRzwxO_YWS-RYCB6ke1wQ8rxQmD6q_6TOf2ncul1RG3gKVu74y7cl9dR1zI5dNIXGO4Xt9Xyu9om2vapNkE/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><font>It's that time of year when I venture into the loft to get out the festive decorations. I know it's considered a little early but for the </font><span>last few years we've been trimming up a little earlier.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>If you knew me a few years ago you'd know that I used to get annoyed with the type of </span><span>people that put up their decorations in November but of late my attitudes have changed. I've grown to realise that the whole of the Yule period is more than just one day as we are culturally led to believe. Yule is a season. It can start pretty much anytime after harvest/halloween if you want It too.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span>Our festive decorations are numerous and the task of trimming th</span><span>e </span><span>house is a bit of an undertaking. It all starts with me risking my </span><span>life getting the stuff out of </span><span>the loft.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh65KQCNKpx73JF3rQlDQhz4PKdo6nmN3iUh_8Y_I0M9r98w-Laf8s3UgChyphenhyphen28Mi3uf-et1k-ogAvo3yXRg11PvvItB_22_vnFiJTZ8962yBgwabZgXOyGIqiZhGhP61fKjKL6UVKROUE7Nog7iET1FJpMkLPfraGlZeF2ljfhxHFWSzz1fEZiwb9QkQA/s1620/1700437181692.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh65KQCNKpx73JF3rQlDQhz4PKdo6nmN3iUh_8Y_I0M9r98w-Laf8s3UgChyphenhyphen28Mi3uf-et1k-ogAvo3yXRg11PvvItB_22_vnFiJTZ8962yBgwabZgXOyGIqiZhGhP61fKjKL6UVKROUE7Nog7iET1FJpMkLPfraGlZeF2ljfhxHFWSzz1fEZiwb9QkQA/s320/1700437181692.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So all the decorations are up, next is a festive trip. And I'll tell you all about that in the next post.</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><div style="text-align: center;">Check out my social media</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">threads.net/CaptainKirt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">X.com/CaptainKirt</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-75476646274414711242023-10-22T09:11:00.004+01:002023-10-22T09:13:10.643+01:002310.22 TIME FOR JUMPERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWec0nmLDZIRXOW5v5nIveCjWh8PBJcYlciboJie17nQQQizLwItqruGm1mmotHEobxDyXeZO9exmFInktk7knYmopRzKQhRmdPNsHDJWV2lMyR-xTwGcqQPqc17q03jVPoAbBB-72raA7rFru7cGfOOMA43exBiEXLOCTahhXHhvw0EcJM9sD1EzmX-M/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWec0nmLDZIRXOW5v5nIveCjWh8PBJcYlciboJie17nQQQizLwItqruGm1mmotHEobxDyXeZO9exmFInktk7knYmopRzKQhRmdPNsHDJWV2lMyR-xTwGcqQPqc17q03jVPoAbBB-72raA7rFru7cGfOOMA43exBiEXLOCTahhXHhvw0EcJM9sD1EzmX-M/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been unseasonably warm this season which is currently in the process of change. Weather isn't always a cyclist's friend, the cold and wet together with wind and ice sometimes make the rides dangerous or just plain unpleasant. As I write this Storm Babet is battering the country (it's safe to say I didn't cycle to work today - Friday).<span><a name='more'></a></span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">World events make for depressing reading, it seems that half the world wants to kill the other in one way or another. What with climate change, the war in Ukraine and now it's kicking off in the Middle East! Domestic news isn't good either but, hey, let us try and keep things light.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Over the years I have tutored many new starters at work some (in fact most) have gone on to do great things. I had said that I'd never do it again since our pay cut but apparently I've been assigned a "tutee" starting next week. I have been given assurances that I won't be doing the day-to-day stuff and only looking after the training paperwork. We'll see how that pans out. I'm passionate about what I </span><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">do so my expectations are pretty high.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There is some good news for next February. I just booked a hotel in York for an overnight stay during the Jorvik Viking Festival (like we did this year). I can't wait to immerse myself in the Nordic vibe. I especially loved the "Valhalla" pub which will definitely get another visit. We've also booked next year's trip to our happy place, as part of Morticia's special birthday celebrations we will be having an extended stay next May.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">threads.net/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">X.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-14009113602610209282023-09-30T12:06:00.000+01:002023-09-30T12:06:31.753+01:002309.30 POSTCARD FROM CEI NEWYDD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfDL-cBxbNt35NdxpPkDN57PvpDQ3DXs-DvADaKigR0F2oVv6jtMHsr4LvFRzjxaErUz4yBJ2DUkGl1QZ93oAJadmPaaBg-eC7WK-Uv2KJHCEOVscgwMny-THU-CLKAGCNoxj_K0JgcljBkHuX7FRmfD1-u_dnwzCjg64-A_PpPHQqveMKe-QeXUd-Vw/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfDL-cBxbNt35NdxpPkDN57PvpDQ3DXs-DvADaKigR0F2oVv6jtMHsr4LvFRzjxaErUz4yBJ2DUkGl1QZ93oAJadmPaaBg-eC7WK-Uv2KJHCEOVscgwMny-THU-CLKAGCNoxj_K0JgcljBkHuX7FRmfD1-u_dnwzCjg64-A_PpPHQqveMKe-QeXUd-Vw/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p id="isPasted" style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">I've done so many blog posts about my holidays and it could be said it's the same every year. I don't really care that we visit the same place every year. People might roll their eyes when we say we are going there but when you find a place which just resonates with you and makes you happy then why wouldn't we? This year, however, there is one significant difference... the dog, Magnus, came with us.</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We set off extra early. We rolled at 5 a.m. to miss the traffic through Manchester. The usual stop-off at Chester came on before we knew it although we spent a little longer there so the dog could stretch his legs. The next stop would be in Wales. After a quick stop at Tesco in Ruthin, we rocked up at Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) for a breakfast picnic and a walk next to the waters.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MoTRd4oCk7n7kdyiH4booIjvPj-b4_3rDH_b2wqi8Z_zXiva1ZEb3ZBdcQykj32wJdfY_K-Nw85CxGaOnCZJMXwkZOOktTX22oVVZhj9ZeghqIOVJlruFMhFEVYdZiLTjHPt1wPFkbWDy14fJ3ydKa0F_jBHhWDT1Pdi5nrZZBZWZp0Dn3EdwAwVgSA/s1880/1696070243650.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1880" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MoTRd4oCk7n7kdyiH4booIjvPj-b4_3rDH_b2wqi8Z_zXiva1ZEb3ZBdcQykj32wJdfY_K-Nw85CxGaOnCZJMXwkZOOktTX22oVVZhj9ZeghqIOVJlruFMhFEVYdZiLTjHPt1wPFkbWDy14fJ3ydKa0F_jBHhWDT1Pdi5nrZZBZWZp0Dn3EdwAwVgSA/s320/1696070243650.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Llyn Tegid, which for many years the name was Anglicised as Bala Lake, is the legendary home of the Goddess Ceridwen who lived on an island in the lake with her husband, the giant named Tegid Foel, from whom the lake takes its name.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Driving through Wales, I got to experience the new 20mph speed limit in built-up areas. It's quite controversial, but if I'm honest, it had very little effect on our journey. I'm having trouble seeing what all the fuss is about, but I don't have to live with it (but I'd welcome the opportunity).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn9dAvEPwEU1Oq0NQQxJTDaqCjgBq5K2NdIH1wcVFeVFEuP3fxkpSLg60lrLsJB0zA-fA5k0TOTIFkIiu2sGo-hP4yDmOcaoXDbovW_-pSxDj1h5M9d_qN22QSffLW5TexspgSJqKDM5_R3nuLBzcOVeITuWs3cY2LZMYfUpY6SDwXoYjoImXoJzdhYU/s1628/1696070389753.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn9dAvEPwEU1Oq0NQQxJTDaqCjgBq5K2NdIH1wcVFeVFEuP3fxkpSLg60lrLsJB0zA-fA5k0TOTIFkIiu2sGo-hP4yDmOcaoXDbovW_-pSxDj1h5M9d_qN22QSffLW5TexspgSJqKDM5_R3nuLBzcOVeITuWs3cY2LZMYfUpY6SDwXoYjoImXoJzdhYU/w200-h200/1696070389753.png" width="200" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We arrived around dinner time (that's midday to us northerners), the weather was beautiful and the place was perfect as always. As soon as my eyes saw that place, all my stresses and issues melted away. The energy of this place is remarkable. We had a stroll around the town before grabbing a cuppa and a portion of chips at the newly renovated Mariner cafe.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">In the afternoon we want up to when we were staying to book in. The caravan was amazing. It's on the usual site but on the new waterside development - high spec and doggy friendly, everything we could need.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4J-wqIaD5PtsQ3jkQYgNT0u2EcMgb8FYk0rmAs_fqIjuQf8zSUth-SH63gkh2k7AQWbSlWT_cb1EJyN0dodgN5m6gH_qhkonBnN6c0rJ6xz6KPcRUyVC3bXC72iiL4qQjJsjgUvlrMVUB1U1kK94Db_TggjrYdIO-kW29vCTRB0RfnHZoT8npJs7JOg/s1880/1696070737006.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1880" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4J-wqIaD5PtsQ3jkQYgNT0u2EcMgb8FYk0rmAs_fqIjuQf8zSUth-SH63gkh2k7AQWbSlWT_cb1EJyN0dodgN5m6gH_qhkonBnN6c0rJ6xz6KPcRUyVC3bXC72iiL4qQjJsjgUvlrMVUB1U1kK94Db_TggjrYdIO-kW29vCTRB0RfnHZoT8npJs7JOg/s320/1696070737006.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The weather was good, apart from Storm Agnes which ended up passing by overnight on Wednesday and not affecting us too much. Compared to last year, the weather was so much better although the break was too short and over before we knew it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdwc-O_rEL7Xl_KZh5_AvkDzYP8P4QdN5hCvBMbdhEMTFzMzJUoEcv3kAG6zJ-jQgYyC8FfB1z_Vwu4bu-1R_LhcwAHHMwK0mexarqJsVJiM-Dq57_-BnlAKX9xCMflo918MVJwpzp4CoU14rMK91P_7hx35AMlLQhOtR3b3WZezNHdLUOERYDxrkOk0/s1628/1696070885825.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdwc-O_rEL7Xl_KZh5_AvkDzYP8P4QdN5hCvBMbdhEMTFzMzJUoEcv3kAG6zJ-jQgYyC8FfB1z_Vwu4bu-1R_LhcwAHHMwK0mexarqJsVJiM-Dq57_-BnlAKX9xCMflo918MVJwpzp4CoU14rMK91P_7hx35AMlLQhOtR3b3WZezNHdLUOERYDxrkOk0/s320/1696070885825.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Visits to Aberaeron and Afon Mel Honey Farm were obligatory, of course. We have good friends here and we love hooking up with them. It's always a joy. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Magnus loved his first holiday. It was the first time we'd ever taken a pet away with us and it was a great success. There are so many dog-friendly establishments around these days, so many dogs with owners in the area than there ever used to be. I hope we can bring him with us again soon.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3jD-fg0oLWGExCL8PQZp0viUDlSba1DNMb9OuNFpJ07G-7FLt52mbb2lSN8__z5FQDpxaHr3zWlXOc7naeQrnw8Yr1ZYHFSJXn8GvQmzQVAW0A6N6GiILxT9RzV9Eu5eiVm9qg2OH4UYGTmJEgb4AnDhPcRPP7taNXJhyphenhyphen5-TECkV-i5oxJrF1m0ogYw/s1628/1696071027600.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3jD-fg0oLWGExCL8PQZp0viUDlSba1DNMb9OuNFpJ07G-7FLt52mbb2lSN8__z5FQDpxaHr3zWlXOc7naeQrnw8Yr1ZYHFSJXn8GvQmzQVAW0A6N6GiILxT9RzV9Eu5eiVm9qg2OH4UYGTmJEgb4AnDhPcRPP7taNXJhyphenhyphen5-TECkV-i5oxJrF1m0ogYw/s320/1696071027600.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #414141; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">And so it was time to head home and the whole trip went back to being a dream. We have a trip planned soon and we hope to get across again for Morticia's special birthday next year.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Check out my social media</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://instagram.com/CaptainKirt">instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social">bsky.app/profile/CaptainKirt.bsky.social</a> </span><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: medium;">NEW</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0New Quay, UK52.215536000000007 -4.35908123.905302163821162 -39.515331 80.525769836178853 30.797169tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-77891025888641265832023-09-23T10:58:00.002+01:002023-09-23T10:58:24.351+01:002309.23 CATCHUP TIME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGjy6OwsCxRgvuIbhRSM1ydC75mTrbsD8dAUTg_WeV4zeUmGjp48R2Qjem0q4yILL79j8oCUvMbHm41mTMhSfrHBDIkp7RqEFG-yS_95SH0QtMfuVVkcRMIpeusXHm_VmKwPXDIzpIgYO5zxKJaew74UbZUW4nflB1bBJX0upqq3NpfNfp4S_h1aHRcw/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGjy6OwsCxRgvuIbhRSM1ydC75mTrbsD8dAUTg_WeV4zeUmGjp48R2Qjem0q4yILL79j8oCUvMbHm41mTMhSfrHBDIkp7RqEFG-yS_95SH0QtMfuVVkcRMIpeusXHm_VmKwPXDIzpIgYO5zxKJaew74UbZUW4nflB1bBJX0upqq3NpfNfp4S_h1aHRcw/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">It's been a while since I did a blog post, So I'll attempt to go over a few of the thing that have happened recently, it's difficult because bugger all has really happened. </span></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There's been a lot of grief at work. None of which involved me directly but was in my orbit so the energies in the workplace haven't been great. The dust is settling and things are beginning to return to normal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So as I start to write this it's a week before my holiday. In the morning I'm back at work for 4 day shifts. Last week I had a small issue with my bike which kept me off 2 wheels for a couple of days, in the morning I'll be back on my iron horse.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We got our 7% government agreed pay rise in this month's wages. It's not ideal but it's better than nothing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Cycling to work can sometimes be challenging, especially the long climb from the Don Valley up to us workplace. Today (2309.20) it was even more of a challenge with the arse end of hurricane "Mike" battering down whilst I peddled in.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This is a load of bull. Nine years ago I was looking out of the window at work when I saw something unusual, a bovine interloper strutting up the road. Now in rural settings you might see this sort of thing but around these parts it's rare. I snapped a picture on my work issue BlackBerry and posted it on work's social media (something I still look after to this day). It went viral - the only post I've ever had do so. So you can imagine my surprise when 'Sheffield Online' posted a news story saying a cow had been seen in the exact same place. The attached photo was identical to mine (because it was mine). Later they admitted the story was old and it was a mistake to post. You'd have thought they'd have have pulled the post but it remains.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWJ49Kpcpghmuocd6PJYQfUlrUzdu1Rb-xRZ9o7Ibtg6xMHQAW5p9XLstXJLweYZGr6i6hMeL8fT2mH4M9o8LDwwg5ICeNP2iZGmUTySVnabYazXOdI-R1lW0tyEM44Bg7CHvqVaD6hJWgdG6n3PPE7H1Yinc5hfJ8UlaRU6wSpvdEwLgk-iXFzSTCIs/s1501/Screenshot_20230920_203108_com.facebook.katana_edit_82121233156739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWJ49Kpcpghmuocd6PJYQfUlrUzdu1Rb-xRZ9o7Ibtg6xMHQAW5p9XLstXJLweYZGr6i6hMeL8fT2mH4M9o8LDwwg5ICeNP2iZGmUTySVnabYazXOdI-R1lW0tyEM44Bg7CHvqVaD6hJWgdG6n3PPE7H1Yinc5hfJ8UlaRU6wSpvdEwLgk-iXFzSTCIs/s320/Screenshot_20230920_203108_com.facebook.katana_edit_82121233156739.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The weird thing is the next day another cow was spotted on the other side of town. Bizzare!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Today is the Autumn equinox or Haustblot which means that summer is over which is a shame since we go on holiday in a couple of days, still I hope we get better weather than last year's. I'm hoping to do a little ritual in the evening (if not I'll do something in the morning) to mark the arrival of the beginning of the end of the year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I'll finish by sharing this picture of my eldest which she sent me in response to the message "are you alive", I loved it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdmrqXytOZQQEWMGDplFSMnwgH_JBel_WJjC7Y04MnGdmEjuDPUhsmVlHR-2NhlOUe8dD9P49rjLOklF2MUTIembFWJNjsBwTEVDi8JPg6fJ99ZNcOfXoAiN0kBPP-s5h98lOuiYgKdnqndWJNDzekQ_Rx1Z47fQd0sUfbOcP2o4vCjl1SrfhSoThntY/s1628/1695462471847.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdmrqXytOZQQEWMGDplFSMnwgH_JBel_WJjC7Y04MnGdmEjuDPUhsmVlHR-2NhlOUe8dD9P49rjLOklF2MUTIembFWJNjsBwTEVDi8JPg6fJ99ZNcOfXoAiN0kBPP-s5h98lOuiYgKdnqndWJNDzekQ_Rx1Z47fQd0sUfbOcP2o4vCjl1SrfhSoThntY/s320/1695462471847.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It's also my 21st bloggerversary today.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://threads.net/CaptainKirt">threads.net/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://X.com/CaptainKirt">X.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-44355772051303338352023-07-23T13:00:00.004+01:002023-09-30T12:07:26.395+01:002307.23 DESTRUCTION AND DEATH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4l-aFeuwI_mr_kxlhGlyzZdLnebK17HsI4XOXThtW94OC0nqRqAVOfI98ISCXIJmZlLWm4hDqakB4nu610O8hQvA2Av9-WSvZl5SW7of28F53ebWbeB3po9tfLMY9yZ0mCNgVkaJWKPYdm-L4tskMCxdPoZemswQYI5IQ5kQa_8_o4HOjI3CzRRxJc4/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4l-aFeuwI_mr_kxlhGlyzZdLnebK17HsI4XOXThtW94OC0nqRqAVOfI98ISCXIJmZlLWm4hDqakB4nu610O8hQvA2Av9-WSvZl5SW7of28F53ebWbeB3po9tfLMY9yZ0mCNgVkaJWKPYdm-L4tskMCxdPoZemswQYI5IQ5kQa_8_o4HOjI3CzRRxJc4/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Permanent Marker"; font-size: large;">Every story has an ending. Everything ends. During our lifetimes we witness many endings, some good some not so, but we can't avoid them. </span></div><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p><p justify="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;" text-align:=""><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Last week we waved goodbye to our settee. Now some may say that getting sentimental about an inanimate object is daft, usually these are the same people that give their cars silly names. This piece of furniture has seen so much, our children have grown up on it. We've laughed and cried on it. It's witnessed tragedy and elation - truly the best of times and the worst of times. When it arrived in our home I made a short blog post...</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">0210.14 BIG SEAT </span></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">New settee has arrived and it's huge!! </span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">But after almost 21 years it's time to say goodbye. Its replacement isn't new but the seating position is better for Morticia's disability plus it has a couple of recliners built in. I wish I could afford new, especially at this point in my life but I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a place to sit at the end of a hard day.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I dismantled the old one but I've saved some of the wood and have plans to create something from it at some point.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTptNRG6y__PCe4oY-LV-vN0oaP7U-Tz82LGnRISW-rLbHcJw6UbE-whxDwGc8Ioo10J2GMUOpGZnTeC_UwOReiwiUyfKj1QDaDJw40YEHZ3htLxCdHBograKHXqvYZtwo6kiFP2078vpzc8Te0jWPAY6S8VvimWz_5rjZsRprFdeYwccR-jJaz8_fDk/s1628/1690105471337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTptNRG6y__PCe4oY-LV-vN0oaP7U-Tz82LGnRISW-rLbHcJw6UbE-whxDwGc8Ioo10J2GMUOpGZnTeC_UwOReiwiUyfKj1QDaDJw40YEHZ3htLxCdHBograKHXqvYZtwo6kiFP2078vpzc8Te0jWPAY6S8VvimWz_5rjZsRprFdeYwccR-jJaz8_fDk/s320/1690105471337.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">In my line of work, I sometimes come across death. I can't really go into it in any detail but I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect me. Every event sits in my mind clearly and I feel for the sadness that it is the end of their story. Sometimes their story is a sad one and it might be for the best that their time is ended. I feel for every one of them.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Let's move from endings to anniversaries. In particular, our "pre-silver" wedding anniversary which was at the beginning of the month. We celebrated last Thursday by attending a charity comedy night at Sheffield City Hall. It was a night featuring some big names...</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Join Children’s Hospital Charity Patrons Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont (stars of Meet the Richardsons) for a night of stand-up comedy on the 13th of July, raising money for the amazing Sheffield Children’s! Joining them on the evening will be Tom Davis (Murder In Successville and The Curse), Rosie Jones (8 Out Of 10 Cats, Comic Relief), Daliso Chaponda (Britain’s Got Talent, BBC Radio 4) and Seann Walsh (Mock The Week, Strictly Come Dancing, I’m A Celebrity), and recently added Sarah Millican. What a brilliant lineup to raise money for an amazing hospital, one of only three standalone children’s hospitals in the UK. Don’t miss their first annual comedy night at the Sheffield City Hall, raising money for The Children’s Hospital Charity that works to change children's lives!</span></em></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">And next week we are going to see Lucy Beaumont live at one of her work-in-progress shows.</span></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z0egX941vyFyqpgXw03dkbr465Faw71Wuj04zGHYk8PoUSf-wpPD-uJuw5PmHEdy707havQahjLcmDnIGWmyTowV8wyoYyzJys3stwY3SfeJcl31WVVEqSPabZf1zGg_yGMzW1bTPkq_YqiChWnoXBEi0lhvwAtBaIvoxWuvJv5EHU2744IhSbHKxKM/s382/0140(1)_copy_382x308.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="382" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z0egX941vyFyqpgXw03dkbr465Faw71Wuj04zGHYk8PoUSf-wpPD-uJuw5PmHEdy707havQahjLcmDnIGWmyTowV8wyoYyzJys3stwY3SfeJcl31WVVEqSPabZf1zGg_yGMzW1bTPkq_YqiChWnoXBEi0lhvwAtBaIvoxWuvJv5EHU2744IhSbHKxKM/w200-h161/0140(1)_copy_382x308.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-76306771421330353702023-07-02T13:36:00.002+01:002023-07-02T13:36:30.520+01:002307.02 IT'S JULY SO IT MUST BE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LE4u0RVh_A58IIKyOOal6-IRQa8bk_vQIjejlaQq5pfUSx5RkyfkPcuYPZsB8e7YNA29oIochCcNdodqmr-QIGPo7BLWI9Iu43UvLTWT6rbswY-Xgioc2sk7qC_K0j84mB_MOCpxyYMrZPszim7MRPXLv30QCMcFjYmtIRtNHOIlw3zyKPnP8IChMcU/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LE4u0RVh_A58IIKyOOal6-IRQa8bk_vQIjejlaQq5pfUSx5RkyfkPcuYPZsB8e7YNA29oIochCcNdodqmr-QIGPo7BLWI9Iu43UvLTWT6rbswY-Xgioc2sk7qC_K0j84mB_MOCpxyYMrZPszim7MRPXLv30QCMcFjYmtIRtNHOIlw3zyKPnP8IChMcU/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">It's my favourite time of year. The weather is warmer (although we still get plenty of rain), the days are long and I get to enjoy the greatest bike race in the world. July is a wonderful time of year.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Yep, it's Tour de France time and as I write these words I have the race (stage 2) on my TV screen. This year is the final outing of one of the greatest cyclists in history, Mark Cavendish. Currently, he equals the record for the number of stage wins overall so potentially he has the opportunity to break that record this time around, what a great swansong that would be. Who can forget those finishes on the Champs Elysees?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlQKth8gIhrdEsmY4CSSo7370pM561UOlrEJclSvvidHoj86_RHc1fcwNaA9MHf3bGv-La_lJWRqlHFkZwRJFFUn44uR2xgDtr_BAIrCGGmMnJVmisvLKYXfVseCQaMhE7a4kdpoJJODs7WJ9hd8F4Wjv_ZUohVVe33RdG7AujU8lAhAqqETLcEbPHh8/s1628/1688299460296.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlQKth8gIhrdEsmY4CSSo7370pM561UOlrEJclSvvidHoj86_RHc1fcwNaA9MHf3bGv-La_lJWRqlHFkZwRJFFUn44uR2xgDtr_BAIrCGGmMnJVmisvLKYXfVseCQaMhE7a4kdpoJJODs7WJ9hd8F4Wjv_ZUohVVe33RdG7AujU8lAhAqqETLcEbPHh8/s320/1688299460296.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">A couple of weeks ago I went to see another live band, Illusions of Grandeur, a theatrical metal group who were over on tour from America. It was a brilliant show and topped off by getting to chat with the band afterwards (you don't get that at stadium gigs). If you like that sort of music and get a chance, go see them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71TddR3uoCOUEdODvuu2L6qVsbN2d_phyCO5vdtzTNQnNhPlL7Xe-aFs9dBu6MyTPlkATZ8AVK4Qv7oMwkdS2JsjXEN-5D_2t4F7FzDXVPwMxdFf3nbzBbetvUDGzEhbrr4BaFfjfgzV4UaOu0PW3k2GFstipZqMM9EXT2SsTX6riDm_hHrcJtCxZ8bA/s1628/1688299567541.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71TddR3uoCOUEdODvuu2L6qVsbN2d_phyCO5vdtzTNQnNhPlL7Xe-aFs9dBu6MyTPlkATZ8AVK4Qv7oMwkdS2JsjXEN-5D_2t4F7FzDXVPwMxdFf3nbzBbetvUDGzEhbrr4BaFfjfgzV4UaOu0PW3k2GFstipZqMM9EXT2SsTX6riDm_hHrcJtCxZ8bA/s320/1688299567541.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I did enjoy watching Guns and Roses at Glastonbury on the TV, I wasn't expecting to watch it but found myself drawn in. Morticia has seen them live on many occasions but my list of live shows sadly lags way behind hers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">On the week of Midsommer, we had a bit of a dark family situation that overwhelmed us for a short time. I'm not proud of how I handled things but it was difficult to know the right thing to do. The situation has resolved itself for now and I've set about trying to cleanse the energies in the house. I've tried to work with the house wights more than I have before and I think, all in all, it's been beneficial. We had a belated Midsommerblot the following weekend with a fire and offerings - and a little of my favourite Welsh ale.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So I'm going to wrap this post up on a high. As is well known we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis in the UK which means prices are up and wages are stagnant. I could get into the politics, especially about the rising interest rates which seems so out of touch. I'm not going down that rabbithole today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Well, this put into doubt our annual trip to our beloved Wales. But...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">...we've booked! Now I'd love to be there in July and enjoy some of the wonderful weather we've had but that's out of reach this year. We've booked for September and we get to take Magnus (our Yorkshire Terrier) with us this year! I'm so excited about it, I keep looking at photos of past trips and thinking about the upcoming journey.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So, for now, I'll get back to bike racing on TV and remember if you see me this month I may have not seen that day's stage so please... no spoilers!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMxJzbbHF9eOZcX1C2rY82p_clk8Tkh1_URnAzO_LFLd6OUebDCcPz2yG66ga66ZG5rMJtja6D1aPPud2pedjqjTVzd1kQ0zKVSYI54hPRSyJvWVqKHIvj50oGT3KOOEZom4eoLopLJ-ORNLYVuV-3fDevjUPYE3uwT0UcA-dPTXnXQf7tZQISx52_1I/s364/0139(1)_copy_364x330.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="364" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMxJzbbHF9eOZcX1C2rY82p_clk8Tkh1_URnAzO_LFLd6OUebDCcPz2yG66ga66ZG5rMJtja6D1aPPud2pedjqjTVzd1kQ0zKVSYI54hPRSyJvWVqKHIvj50oGT3KOOEZom4eoLopLJ-ORNLYVuV-3fDevjUPYE3uwT0UcA-dPTXnXQf7tZQISx52_1I/w137-h124/0139(1)_copy_364x330.png" width="137" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-32693512021798924492023-06-11T10:03:00.000+01:002023-06-11T10:03:37.993+01:002306.11 KIND HEARTS AND CORONATIONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFawrMO2ci9UyumANmvRpXHi9AlxYybvlkq-8VBQ03umQs1iqvkgWEwfjHpiGel12zr3Of5W9n-d2aj0wefCeo5ROLJdblZevmHn92Cxhdxr7rkdSFMFoYa1FxoWd4peWz4oNHE6GrlZzqHfwBqe6zQTOQIaYJXzETXHFuJbY1jVjL4vBflTZsTEZL/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFawrMO2ci9UyumANmvRpXHi9AlxYybvlkq-8VBQ03umQs1iqvkgWEwfjHpiGel12zr3Of5W9n-d2aj0wefCeo5ROLJdblZevmHn92Cxhdxr7rkdSFMFoYa1FxoWd4peWz4oNHE6GrlZzqHfwBqe6zQTOQIaYJXzETXHFuJbY1jVjL4vBflTZsTEZL/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">This blog post is a bit of a mis-mish of different stuff since I haven't had the chance to write anything, or maybe I just couldn't be arsed? Anyway, I'll try and recap what's been going on and hopefully do better in the future.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><a name="more"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I had a birthday last month. It wasn't a big one, just another year older. I didn't do anything particularly special to celebrate. <span>It was a quiet day, but it was perfect. I didn't have to worry. </span><span>I'm not saying that all birthdays have to be quiet, I'm no party animal but in certain circumstances I'm all for a blow out but sometimes, it's nice to just have a quiet day to yourself. We did go out for a bit, we tried out the new Snafu bar in town but we didnt stay out late.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">A quiet birthday can sometimes be just as special as a big, noisy one. Sometimes, it's nice to just have a day to yourself to relax and reflect.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PNq5cL11ZzhVNec0kekGIo0GiSkJvGQIEJpPJlmjiBkkkkE4S8OAERbyQASVbJliEZYCzR-quPyTMxVwLbHAfZSN8Vkp29aDZvT4PsW7hMo88x9xB4EabNTcpO1A0JhmodbhjAJl-Ro/s1600/cypher.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="920" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PNq5cL11ZzhVNec0kekGIo0GiSkJvGQIEJpPJlmjiBkkkkE4S8OAERbyQASVbJliEZYCzR-quPyTMxVwLbHAfZSN8Vkp29aDZvT4PsW7hMo88x9xB4EabNTcpO1A0JhmodbhjAJl-Ro/s1600/cypher.png" title="" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Saturday, May 6, 2023, the United Kingdom celebrated the coronation of King Charles III. The event was a historic occasion, and people from all over the country, indeed the world, gathered to watch it. I was lucky enough to be able to watch some of the coronation live on television. It's always exciting to be part of history and enjoyed watching the ceremony. I love a bit of pomp and belive in the importance of tradition and ceremony. Now I'm not a massive royalist but also I'm definetly no republican. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The coronation began with a procession of the royal family and guests into Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury then led the ceremony, which included the anointing and crowning of the King, and the delivery of the coronation oath. After the ceremony, the King and Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowds.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The coronation was a historic event, and it was a day to be proud to be British. I am grateful that I was able to experience it. Also, as part of my job I will be getting a medal to celebrate the occasion.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFAr29HgjyerxMsNKFBLv9bunKmImP0JzoZu7SpaDykbC5Sz8onHLfWAW9seUhuojtk6r-8ONNustZbMXyDcliZcoffXTK7pc68XxmDSxU737uXkf02Mvr2_Oa9X_hkTxsU4Ted7RvHILk80UiNYpWIJLU_AlleTGrtSD5qaTGU90MysB9Vb7a4-G/s1628/1686332126827.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFAr29HgjyerxMsNKFBLv9bunKmImP0JzoZu7SpaDykbC5Sz8onHLfWAW9seUhuojtk6r-8ONNustZbMXyDcliZcoffXTK7pc68XxmDSxU737uXkf02Mvr2_Oa9X_hkTxsU4Ted7RvHILk80UiNYpWIJLU_AlleTGrtSD5qaTGU90MysB9Vb7a4-G/s320/1686332126827.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This month has been a hot one, not overly so but really pleasant. I've enjoyed time in the garden and had some pleasant commuting bike rides on my new bike. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVfbq0YZ6D7Bi0zSqliGhprQepdWVBmZASftgOPnnkPNXTYUZT3SI1hUZNBlqygfW4Uin_9AqdiQ6ptOKWqBl4maiY_0z3P03ACdDQotQBKHRDzqxzZTtvgEzs_MxLqHhs1BvnVNp0uA9dGdvk6cHbtD2xZsvnApY8TCQPqdoJix67KvUdxTP4ynv/s1628/1686332633044.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVfbq0YZ6D7Bi0zSqliGhprQepdWVBmZASftgOPnnkPNXTYUZT3SI1hUZNBlqygfW4Uin_9AqdiQ6ptOKWqBl4maiY_0z3P03ACdDQotQBKHRDzqxzZTtvgEzs_MxLqHhs1BvnVNp0uA9dGdvk6cHbtD2xZsvnApY8TCQPqdoJix67KvUdxTP4ynv/s320/1686332633044.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We've also enjoyed days out with Magnus, our dog.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3O4xKQPEZJz0qMuPN5tETu5pt87VUj9qkwDTA2jiVtFbF1Sxu49aGSNt_X4nAy8VCUcsKgJ9EnlGDmwnxmdY2664rC_b0SImhnNHNm6IWgJDILtoUOeFD53QnET3rG_As886KvMDnUEMJBsqkbGmCwr8g3h-t_C4VnhMWP9_vhdtaV1RKwn-LSJ7/s1628/1686332540619.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3O4xKQPEZJz0qMuPN5tETu5pt87VUj9qkwDTA2jiVtFbF1Sxu49aGSNt_X4nAy8VCUcsKgJ9EnlGDmwnxmdY2664rC_b0SImhnNHNm6IWgJDILtoUOeFD53QnET3rG_As886KvMDnUEMJBsqkbGmCwr8g3h-t_C4VnhMWP9_vhdtaV1RKwn-LSJ7/s320/1686332540619.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWHO9Fu0VzxHqr_rBuoY0u_BXmPGBD8g8Sx52OqxrN5c8mAxyEOBGxAhLBC8jCaQFXFc1mdPRLeiQrm8qD7soRKMGYvh13M6xDEyg3PjRIU17VLLSFDzd_xDPqnqfSAExajUB6k2XjeFkigo9agNy1GQGrCAGAbbSamWL6vwxh-R8_gczkISHqZaD/s1628/1686332594673.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWHO9Fu0VzxHqr_rBuoY0u_BXmPGBD8g8Sx52OqxrN5c8mAxyEOBGxAhLBC8jCaQFXFc1mdPRLeiQrm8qD7soRKMGYvh13M6xDEyg3PjRIU17VLLSFDzd_xDPqnqfSAExajUB6k2XjeFkigo9agNy1GQGrCAGAbbSamWL6vwxh-R8_gczkISHqZaD/s320/1686332594673.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5I-s37MMRZ2W8hV4XUodFg9-t2_JBDlF-avzKvb9uoosguJx1KEwjcBFOraYMNbUC1RwKR_o_4Ox9fCfNJfyRKaeEmw_t_dRKArbSlSb6mjYKC4QDE6rPSR0KLCAPspMGWOGrD2eA0cyp7LWl5vD-HzqcYGu2QIWNQ8z9TbjiD27czewv_9cETIB/s1628/1686332365721.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5I-s37MMRZ2W8hV4XUodFg9-t2_JBDlF-avzKvb9uoosguJx1KEwjcBFOraYMNbUC1RwKR_o_4Ox9fCfNJfyRKaeEmw_t_dRKArbSlSb6mjYKC4QDE6rPSR0KLCAPspMGWOGrD2eA0cyp7LWl5vD-HzqcYGu2QIWNQ8z9TbjiD27czewv_9cETIB/w320-h320/1686332365721.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Lastly I have to mention the latest Star Trek that absolutely blew my and every other fan's mind. I am of course talking about season 3 of Star Trek Picard. It was a love letter to the Next Generation which gave them the send off they deserved. Any fan that wasn't moved to tears by the end has no heart, it was amazing. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I think I'll tie it up there, i want to try and get this blog restarted once again with some more regular posts. Hopefully I can make that happen.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQEeGwZjRE5X_OQHboZy3lZCKnRsOpPo1lDIIu5k61XOdda44eKearFYXaVFVkSAcNLosxXW2rg1dvgqo2GR0fUhDopO9VoRQWiqUirrozMp6QiZeiwvkLPmeaQMc7fcXLidzZl3bczMRpSe0nJvhaZOv_9uyFLsuwUM1Z85wEuPhk4SQPseN3aWQ/s700/0138temp_copy_700x438.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="700" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQEeGwZjRE5X_OQHboZy3lZCKnRsOpPo1lDIIu5k61XOdda44eKearFYXaVFVkSAcNLosxXW2rg1dvgqo2GR0fUhDopO9VoRQWiqUirrozMp6QiZeiwvkLPmeaQMc7fcXLidzZl3bczMRpSe0nJvhaZOv_9uyFLsuwUM1Z85wEuPhk4SQPseN3aWQ/w200-h125/0138temp_copy_700x438.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-78660483698639303292023-04-21T09:40:00.053+01:002023-04-21T09:40:00.165+01:002304.21 SUMMER IS COMING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcfKx2NoUva9qM0axvb2LVgJjFPYvFk06lX07u9IbQyVm5lGU176ljuN8hBF1nqBAkwRVbawt7aIEJZNUBbmX3LwidqRomDJekDnXQnU78zEPMQxEIcqq8cWMvgz5eUBkFoNmyzYVXTYrwJi8lSn6S6g9AA52wjngfsP64-8gTbyvoHbYpHVjwtDo/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcfKx2NoUva9qM0axvb2LVgJjFPYvFk06lX07u9IbQyVm5lGU176ljuN8hBF1nqBAkwRVbawt7aIEJZNUBbmX3LwidqRomDJekDnXQnU78zEPMQxEIcqq8cWMvgz5eUBkFoNmyzYVXTYrwJi8lSn6S6g9AA52wjngfsP64-8gTbyvoHbYpHVjwtDo/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">So we conclude our celebration of the victory of summer over winter and I look forward to enjoying a long and pleasant summer.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This started badly for me when the vessel I use for offerings started to fall apart. I've previously fixed a leak with it but unfortunately I think this time the deterioration was terminal. So my altar would be without an integral part. Fortunately I stumbled on the perfect replacement - a second hand ceramic goblet which I think would have been originally been from the Jorvik Viking Centre. The seller said it was from the 80s and it was only a few quid so I snapped it up and now has pride of place and a purpose.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1JYTXH3KaURREP37h1vrlHzQo4L7UzGpWvF8Bpn0N7_2Rt8xVr3fAs602UVh3zbgu8I95ch4LAtfW_aUzEN2NWKDH3jbYBOsvv0fELTmHaO4PclycSopO6FFXx0UGUcfd3VYsjc5eWVZqY_2VJsC73yV6BR9YqmGudaiwuDcpTblFEAV5cbNy40o/s1628/1681743627820.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1JYTXH3KaURREP37h1vrlHzQo4L7UzGpWvF8Bpn0N7_2Rt8xVr3fAs602UVh3zbgu8I95ch4LAtfW_aUzEN2NWKDH3jbYBOsvv0fELTmHaO4PclycSopO6FFXx0UGUcfd3VYsjc5eWVZqY_2VJsC73yV6BR9YqmGudaiwuDcpTblFEAV5cbNy40o/s320/1681743627820.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I love the metal music scene, especially the live stuff and my local music venue hosted a festival of metal/goth/punk music last weekend which I've been looking forward too for weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">And so we went...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw8urCW71fp8Ptb6N0Z35p2KsWc9t9DeWhg3ZkYaJUXHTdJN5ezGHOAZR9zaCT2juNoDGhNaI7lxvCw4JY4y1d9sV2CgoBKStvFZQyA4HSYwGDQt0ywxFeDKOVe1abSAJLRhf0PEBA9EuEytHnSBjM0AZ1T-tAlsh2IUIjfC2BponVZ7OgF5itc1p/s1280/breaking-news~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw8urCW71fp8Ptb6N0Z35p2KsWc9t9DeWhg3ZkYaJUXHTdJN5ezGHOAZR9zaCT2juNoDGhNaI7lxvCw4JY4y1d9sV2CgoBKStvFZQyA4HSYwGDQt0ywxFeDKOVe1abSAJLRhf0PEBA9EuEytHnSBjM0AZ1T-tAlsh2IUIjfC2BponVZ7OgF5itc1p/s320/breaking-news~2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUO9y__5VWE7Nx8wcNLd99WqVfh_VOGrd6NGtMAlyHAd0a5qFzsd6-72Ig7eT44RJoNffWGVzTrzX2HcwC7jd95BvfFewFj0EodT4EywVaDkb4IVV5Ai6kMubD29hDyDS5IZVogibzXj0rifUbfIBDaYK2e6O_69sXmA3Pz1mQJvPE3Rf7uZd42tl/s1628/1681660769923.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUO9y__5VWE7Nx8wcNLd99WqVfh_VOGrd6NGtMAlyHAd0a5qFzsd6-72Ig7eT44RJoNffWGVzTrzX2HcwC7jd95BvfFewFj0EodT4EywVaDkb4IVV5Ai6kMubD29hDyDS5IZVogibzXj0rifUbfIBDaYK2e6O_69sXmA3Pz1mQJvPE3Rf7uZd42tl/s320/1681660769923.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1BJCci6Xqh_VHM_HetqpEjW5w2Xl6rn8Fc91NjAzDzC0QkAqoHWDeRBDdphRGFCNvSZlqcOFXwfD9nzY-7yxOEOTgrv4U7Z9Agt-dWX6ZcT7et7OBam07C4X1wAHbNUZXik5BlWDzDeAMF2nKRJty8Rpe3Cp3eBu4EErbLiUvrV_00_njNAUDxei/s1628/1681660838563.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1BJCci6Xqh_VHM_HetqpEjW5w2Xl6rn8Fc91NjAzDzC0QkAqoHWDeRBDdphRGFCNvSZlqcOFXwfD9nzY-7yxOEOTgrv4U7Z9Agt-dWX6ZcT7et7OBam07C4X1wAHbNUZXik5BlWDzDeAMF2nKRJty8Rpe3Cp3eBu4EErbLiUvrV_00_njNAUDxei/s320/1681660838563.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXbgzoNk3OPE4QqoHio9mwZQg4JnMyYSNLZcbKuKSLm3CwCAT-dkWrgEg6zUF1sqyoHCtsaZwDISxOu5bQaIZoJBOvfHYP25FJh0VWf2dWQ1XeWXANP5Jjuah6SjM_NoFh4ajHaZdGmCSRbFP_Goy1yvV_KPE9FRrozo1cj8TkzI8i_OJ85k7KVdI/s1628/1681661018792.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXbgzoNk3OPE4QqoHio9mwZQg4JnMyYSNLZcbKuKSLm3CwCAT-dkWrgEg6zUF1sqyoHCtsaZwDISxOu5bQaIZoJBOvfHYP25FJh0VWf2dWQ1XeWXANP5Jjuah6SjM_NoFh4ajHaZdGmCSRbFP_Goy1yvV_KPE9FRrozo1cj8TkzI8i_OJ85k7KVdI/s320/1681661018792.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyF2-3Nv4P10anDsGf96sUKb59Eeiy8urE0VdDTXJJbHfSP3WHWmF9Ca2LDU1SlB26UlFJpv-pQEImJXF6DHxdD9nYxUN6hacMqeTMhWEhwF0os-R1n7zzCPGd7_rguvV-yn_Qle2VI2HMVOvuwkzT4o093dXe_jkgg5q5BmK6eol-TuNb9CethxD/s1628/1681661140982.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyF2-3Nv4P10anDsGf96sUKb59Eeiy8urE0VdDTXJJbHfSP3WHWmF9Ca2LDU1SlB26UlFJpv-pQEImJXF6DHxdD9nYxUN6hacMqeTMhWEhwF0os-R1n7zzCPGd7_rguvV-yn_Qle2VI2HMVOvuwkzT4o093dXe_jkgg5q5BmK6eol-TuNb9CethxD/s320/1681661140982.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It was a brilliant night and I got to see <b>Lesbian Bed Death</b>, a band I've been following for a bit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_pcsJhJ9HRe5F8gk3HukcxO5fjFUkPtzE_A46D0As-paXu274u8bt29IWFRIjbTS0DFi7Dte0d92j2FvQDeqVjVc8cmAe7aIS27he8kx8Ytbo2JAYxl4pM99kE2ZjADAseIzcldca6XQaTiuEe-LO7esfzGA-J54HIPUF9GknXwI3y-b7gLs_R8A/s1628/PSX_20230416_171027.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_pcsJhJ9HRe5F8gk3HukcxO5fjFUkPtzE_A46D0As-paXu274u8bt29IWFRIjbTS0DFi7Dte0d92j2FvQDeqVjVc8cmAe7aIS27he8kx8Ytbo2JAYxl4pM99kE2ZjADAseIzcldca6XQaTiuEe-LO7esfzGA-J54HIPUF9GknXwI3y-b7gLs_R8A/s320/PSX_20230416_171027.png" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This weekend a new bar opened in Rotherham which is actually the third iteration of something that's a bit of a local institution... The SNAFU bar has reopened in yet another new location. It hasn't been the same since the original owners and it's original location. New owners attempted to make it bigger and 'better' but it fell flat. I've yet to go but initial reports are positive, we'll see. I'm hoping to pop in on my upcoming birthday weekend.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It comes at the same time as I'm working on my first 'big' illustration project for Morticia, I'm currently working on a drawing of the old SNAFU bar which she wants to frame and hang.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr57WUz1dc6hj1u0FzZq01GzEzuwIm6gMfr1YKWqB46_M9XJ-oqdsYGa0IP0SNQBN1eNSyTmi8SCBcxziQSxTlkAIZy13qYUvIVnvBJrxmbHOk_1jZldu0o77XxEfs5pG_3ZKIRFqw22SI8-aUZnfDR2hcxOU2l8ql5yKtyMZXYDdGTdz5IQ7TnbnK/s2751/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="1752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr57WUz1dc6hj1u0FzZq01GzEzuwIm6gMfr1YKWqB46_M9XJ-oqdsYGa0IP0SNQBN1eNSyTmi8SCBcxziQSxTlkAIZy13qYUvIVnvBJrxmbHOk_1jZldu0o77XxEfs5pG_3ZKIRFqw22SI8-aUZnfDR2hcxOU2l8ql5yKtyMZXYDdGTdz5IQ7TnbnK/s320/image.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">And I'll finish this up as I need to get to a TV and watch the series finale of Star Trek Picard, shhh no spoilers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlnd2h2K8RbvEeDNqqxRmRrpK6xRJiJXkkyLihTF1bOcZBQ9A4UEyDvWKjGAG_XHuwjyPWlF8nRqtyUBPonYkCd4ZUP9FjU3OVjb2z7KqJ8wj_FMDBJT37ZBR99K0E_0D6617LLVRi9UwPYvxCirSTNddNwV7Us28ECQlZ6Wz4srgrQUWjlTT5mfp/s350/0137bw_copy_350x350.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlnd2h2K8RbvEeDNqqxRmRrpK6xRJiJXkkyLihTF1bOcZBQ9A4UEyDvWKjGAG_XHuwjyPWlF8nRqtyUBPonYkCd4ZUP9FjU3OVjb2z7KqJ8wj_FMDBJT37ZBR99K0E_0D6617LLVRi9UwPYvxCirSTNddNwV7Us28ECQlZ6Wz4srgrQUWjlTT5mfp/w129-h129/0137bw_copy_350x350.png" width="129" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">Check out my social media</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-20385828850827718022023-03-27T20:29:00.003+01:002023-03-28T18:01:39.075+01:002303.27 N PLUS ONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPDeT_9fdJAcN33yZuaiZNgdEkXTrDftH8eiQItePDtC_rJ_4LPpA-Znh4-PX2pFiZkss6DQ_bGYEwekCFvBuZv11174YrN_5oAE96GHAwrF1i6v_rohq0iL6AiXkDMfbQ4AgvGgUoQs67I-MWYIi2pvCLEU7UT5QwkST9nlKYyFHMy3l6SxDKWQe/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPDeT_9fdJAcN33yZuaiZNgdEkXTrDftH8eiQItePDtC_rJ_4LPpA-Znh4-PX2pFiZkss6DQ_bGYEwekCFvBuZv11174YrN_5oAE96GHAwrF1i6v_rohq0iL6AiXkDMfbQ4AgvGgUoQs67I-MWYIi2pvCLEU7UT5QwkST9nlKYyFHMy3l6SxDKWQe/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Everyone who knows me knows I love cycling. Ok I'm not the fastest, not the strongest but I am a long time bike rider. So before I start let me explain the meaning of the title; 'N+1'. Most people in cycling know that the optimal number of bicycles a person should own is represented by the formula N+1 where N is the number of bikes you currently own.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Before the events I'm about to talk about my N number was 3 bikes with 1 off the road needing repair. My commuter bike is also requiring a small repair.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Now I'm a big supporter of the cycle to work scheme which enables an employee to buy a bike (supposedly for commuting) tax free and pay over 12 months. It's a brilliant idea and has been the way I've financed 3 bikes and countless accessories over many years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The scheme runs twice a year at work and the latest scheme was announced last week. I wasn't thinking of a new bike before but I started considering the benefits of a new bike. Last year, due to a mechanical issue, I had to use my best bike to ride to work. It was summer and I really enjoyed riding something different. It was at that point I thought about fixing up my old road bike for a summer ride for this year. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The decision was new bike or summer project. I know a summer project has a danger of not happening, a new bike is instant. So I made my decision.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">New bike.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I didn't want something expensive, a bike that would be cheap to maintain yet still give me that summer bike buzz. So here it is...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_CHi3RBlfblLYY1EryhoCk4ZHWx6FqWOnEWTg5CX8KuwPAF7SMxbiGaYUSHqRAHmrl4jzzXUSIl05On1BpzBiE9zFG_tUdc6qfNKLfQYXJvhF1QcSlLr2f8W5r6tvRGDKs9v4pBR6pzrAqPQUzYg0DjJMzGmIse0ISFNtBpd1Q0B0FDeAkqCG2ZK/s1628/1679944643705.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_CHi3RBlfblLYY1EryhoCk4ZHWx6FqWOnEWTg5CX8KuwPAF7SMxbiGaYUSHqRAHmrl4jzzXUSIl05On1BpzBiE9zFG_tUdc6qfNKLfQYXJvhF1QcSlLr2f8W5r6tvRGDKs9v4pBR6pzrAqPQUzYg0DjJMzGmIse0ISFNtBpd1Q0B0FDeAkqCG2ZK/s320/1679944643705.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It's a Boardman SLR 8.6 which is the entry level road offering to which I've added a rear rack to.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So why add a rack to a beautiful road bike? Because I don't like humping my kit on my back in a backpack, the straps rub on my old collarbone injury and they just make me sweaty.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It's maiden ride was today and the plan going forward will be that it'll share the commute burdon with my Merida Cyclo-cross bike (which is in need of a small repair) and be a summer/good weather ride.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNdn46F4_OKKfWmGNSGpkuXIcSxHS3MLeChu6OfHxRzlQqo3RIE-xL7eYM6oPQFX2kPG95R3koTtxpl72Q9CPjbDP43bCNevSYb52JhQuqO2S3QVlvbRivm_Yfne14KnF75j6FvlWX1R4fOBh-QDWFFdBA-FQiLnYbCJMdZgTTCrInvOz4Sy1793G/s700/0136(1)_copy_700x438.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="700" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNdn46F4_OKKfWmGNSGpkuXIcSxHS3MLeChu6OfHxRzlQqo3RIE-xL7eYM6oPQFX2kPG95R3koTtxpl72Q9CPjbDP43bCNevSYb52JhQuqO2S3QVlvbRivm_Yfne14KnF75j6FvlWX1R4fOBh-QDWFFdBA-FQiLnYbCJMdZgTTCrInvOz4Sy1793G/w200-h125/0136(1)_copy_700x438.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-71937526983238170472023-03-12T20:36:00.000+00:002023-03-12T20:36:23.397+00:002303.12 FESTIVALS AND BED REST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO589yZJuZlnVwJ0_rB-_D4drrA80WeRCEEuRKf2yD9gdqqw9vlPiQa4APyLnP9hCP0kEqIUsm4E-o3B7CYA4T-_16SItcovvWDQXjFvdScbmmBE8rVAzxXScFZOwVxo_97qtBIJUWEZHYCK-wXItUT6mEZGO4WRJVIiujpO5CtG5U7ZWRzt463I0z/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO589yZJuZlnVwJ0_rB-_D4drrA80WeRCEEuRKf2yD9gdqqw9vlPiQa4APyLnP9hCP0kEqIUsm4E-o3B7CYA4T-_16SItcovvWDQXjFvdScbmmBE8rVAzxXScFZOwVxo_97qtBIJUWEZHYCK-wXItUT6mEZGO4WRJVIiujpO5CtG5U7ZWRzt463I0z/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">It's taken some time to write up the last few weeks, I'll be going over that towards the end of this post. I've stated before that I want to be able to go out more and last month we managed to do just that (although it's left us a bit skint for the rest of the month).<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We have one of the best real ale festivals in the region just over a mile away from where I live and I've never been. Usually my work has kept me away but this year I booked leave and tickets so Morticia and me could attend. It's held at Magna, a science and heritage attraction in Rotherham created within a former steel mill. It's also used as an event space (the building is huge) and the main part of the festival itself is held in the main hall which is the size of an aircraft hanger.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DNjZtHSF2T3cCSujECubsRJO3Qjud9isl7ubGdKnstxyypy-BBTVsBHrnp0alEPf82S_XA0hSQIOt9fkLDaWXoMJFB9Ov3FCaBQfWs2-UNZWiMQaT3i43AVMC76aQWGU8OkXbLaEyCR9A5PZJS8uuj5_Hq28LhsqKFoOWhu5BqGFs3SklcQYNr31/s1628/1678642115238.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DNjZtHSF2T3cCSujECubsRJO3Qjud9isl7ubGdKnstxyypy-BBTVsBHrnp0alEPf82S_XA0hSQIOt9fkLDaWXoMJFB9Ov3FCaBQfWs2-UNZWiMQaT3i43AVMC76aQWGU8OkXbLaEyCR9A5PZJS8uuj5_Hq28LhsqKFoOWhu5BqGFs3SklcQYNr31/s320/1678642115238.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I love real ales even though I'm not a massive drinker. I got to sample some lovely ales for some of the best breweries in the region. Morticia on the other hand is not a beer drinker and was happy that they also served proseco for those that accompany us beer drinkers.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The festival also features live music and on the bill for the night we attended was the 'Everly Pregnant Brothers', a local parody band that rewrite classic songs to give them a local comedy slant. Classics like "My Chip Pan's On Fire" and "69 To Rotherham" will be familier to a local audience but probably lost on the wider world. If you are interested then search them out on YouTube.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ3ACnbaCHltxtbN-9oeDCslpwkxIYTo87c-xMjRFyFHd6fnvkf9APhZvcmkxClfruftc84dHYV6nEfMmAZl8paRvejIOGB4N86RerInfx5_IGlCuODBi0MKTBWIqMVzQMueU8fZbn2T5w0-90uEk6GcXopbu0-GW9DAxw1Ux_AcaICziwQcIeO-E/s1628/1678642358628.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ3ACnbaCHltxtbN-9oeDCslpwkxIYTo87c-xMjRFyFHd6fnvkf9APhZvcmkxClfruftc84dHYV6nEfMmAZl8paRvejIOGB4N86RerInfx5_IGlCuODBi0MKTBWIqMVzQMueU8fZbn2T5w0-90uEk6GcXopbu0-GW9DAxw1Ux_AcaICziwQcIeO-E/s320/1678642358628.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Morticia and I were also nvited out to a birthday celebration with a friend of ours the following weekend. It was just drinks which was nice and simple. We started out in the local 'Spoons before leading over to a nearby biker bar, one we'd never been to before but was on our radar to visit. The bar is in a motorcycle garage and is new and still establishing itself. Choice of beer is a bit limited at the moment but I hope it does get better as the venue has a great vibe. We had at great time and I'll definatly be back.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8euB0qZGH9lzvrIuux3lSVbC8VfdC_xcivZOBFFdc7GOyFcbd-rj1_Mu0knIZyoPjwhyh1qnAFNpB0aFMeBZntPZh_U5STGL8ZF-2SS_8lSS0gX2Fd79-rKfIk86_2JAGEl2azCEg8jWrK9NuFYSlmulavWi05U9ChTRjFYbDLk9G4_t3RWgvO_C/s1628/1678642047403.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8euB0qZGH9lzvrIuux3lSVbC8VfdC_xcivZOBFFdc7GOyFcbd-rj1_Mu0knIZyoPjwhyh1qnAFNpB0aFMeBZntPZh_U5STGL8ZF-2SS_8lSS0gX2Fd79-rKfIk86_2JAGEl2azCEg8jWrK9NuFYSlmulavWi05U9ChTRjFYbDLk9G4_t3RWgvO_C/s320/1678642047403.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The next day I was feeling a little off, and surprisingly not because of the previous night's activities. My chest was on fire, my limbs ached and my head started to hurt. This got worse to a point where I ended up having a week off sick from work. Now anyone that knows me knows that I practically never have time off sick. That's how poorly I've been.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmMjLSIJ_DL2i8Cwu1zXBJEUF_6e-Y7hbAeQEalTqWQs4OLgM4kJv5wkspH4ZlPb3SenjBImUZc9ZUcesNMgDyV9jzU5nYtxzppkUOIWL0AeFj43VZ54727fFRgkFQbKyAeKTw2fCtdrLJRQdXtm_LPyIAu18xhHfXyLXLCBcly9Culp77woThPnt/s1628/1678642603247.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmMjLSIJ_DL2i8Cwu1zXBJEUF_6e-Y7hbAeQEalTqWQs4OLgM4kJv5wkspH4ZlPb3SenjBImUZc9ZUcesNMgDyV9jzU5nYtxzppkUOIWL0AeFj43VZ54727fFRgkFQbKyAeKTw2fCtdrLJRQdXtm_LPyIAu18xhHfXyLXLCBcly9Culp77woThPnt/s320/1678642603247.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I've since returned to work and I'm 90% back to normal. I managed to cycle in once before it snowed heavily. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2otGyXctKGhZljGfH322mC7fM1ku_ryZiBmahOiJi48wIHwKGzbp5qnlojDLJzJgZQq_DjKXgU7EvNcAw9nZKUWJsh2hOQ88Z8-dcdkiKutDHMMIDvcHUZ3tZR48HrgZHbSWMd4FUTZEUp-4QNQ5Qzz-r6reiyQJAAm75M2IMZYD5N2sFPneFom_/s700/0135_copy_700x438.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="700" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2otGyXctKGhZljGfH322mC7fM1ku_ryZiBmahOiJi48wIHwKGzbp5qnlojDLJzJgZQq_DjKXgU7EvNcAw9nZKUWJsh2hOQ88Z8-dcdkiKutDHMMIDvcHUZ3tZR48HrgZHbSWMd4FUTZEUp-4QNQ5Qzz-r6reiyQJAAm75M2IMZYD5N2sFPneFom_/w200-h125/0135_copy_700x438.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Check out my social media</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">twitter.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://Instagram.com/CaptainKirt"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Instagram.com/CaptainKirt</span></a></div></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-4193743508789226812023-02-14T22:18:00.028+00:002023-02-17T10:56:00.381+00:002302.14 YORVIK<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIJYwQndb5o5QuM-Oi35UCjXIR0xCK50JjN0SoMZtToR7p3-usMgKKSmPvF2AchW_BuNXSWy7dMcZo1aAy9wlhBUBeuQSgDq4-suS_kpTCDSPEL7qlaz3AiVmMfMNwKgbv38qkV5PwcS3uZSh_Q2qyM3i4EoO7b8-vi8qRHElnMqxkzJMlghyAa0t/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(5).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIJYwQndb5o5QuM-Oi35UCjXIR0xCK50JjN0SoMZtToR7p3-usMgKKSmPvF2AchW_BuNXSWy7dMcZo1aAy9wlhBUBeuQSgDq4-suS_kpTCDSPEL7qlaz3AiVmMfMNwKgbv38qkV5PwcS3uZSh_Q2qyM3i4EoO7b8-vi8qRHElnMqxkzJMlghyAa0t/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(5).png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Morticia and I have ventured to the city of York for their annual Viking Festival - Jorvik. It's the first time I've been to the festival and the first time in a long time since I visited York. We're here on the first weekend and I'm aware that the majority of events are on the last weekend. We want a low key visit which combines a break with the viking stuff I love. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2302.11 <span>09:23 - Train to Leeds. I haven't been on a train in a while, I love train travel but it can be expensive (but we got a ticket deal). Change in Leeds for York. I don't understand why people bury themselves in their phones on the train, there is so much to see out the windows. I love the whole experience.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">11:00 - York! We've arrived. We have no plans except to have a bit of fun.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xaKDmjmqpE9jP6bASzbak6jCrmca6NKWJkdCHdiES8BqQDOgiGCpHCL_Cyb7rpcbqiIMNWFsSFLuKzAOK_ow_PqtA5kJp1it-1rkRdGf2AXpFp3CdBrIG17HxCkoYxqEYrSydgCSx7mX8614cEpQR6Tag2ALc2WsJS5DaXBA7Mz-jbodlRf98Nen/s1628/1676546858776.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xaKDmjmqpE9jP6bASzbak6jCrmca6NKWJkdCHdiES8BqQDOgiGCpHCL_Cyb7rpcbqiIMNWFsSFLuKzAOK_ow_PqtA5kJp1it-1rkRdGf2AXpFp3CdBrIG17HxCkoYxqEYrSydgCSx7mX8614cEpQR6Tag2ALc2WsJS5DaXBA7Mz-jbodlRf98Nen/s320/1676546858776.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">York is an amazing city. I'm not a lover of the urban environment but York is truly the exception to that rule. The city ouses history (did you see what I did there? River Ouse?) from every corner. From the city walls to the medival streets and historical landmarks, you won't find skyscraping buildings here. The city is choka with museums and monuments but the history I'm here for is viking.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">York was conquered by the Vikings around 800 AD. Archaeological evidence of the Vikings' presence has been found all over the city.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV5-lawEH2gyjvj347BEx3WWXL1TcCmQi00T5qUbznY0UzOlV-lNPBbzh2L_1XNSM5WD9o-Pd_t9WpNCDzuR4gH3bw_Z2u4pSfmbMiiChtjWB14qXnOd8_l4x9zqxNwfh3t-YWZ-K0qyTRdYbe6EXbUL9kc3EiwYWjn8NeNjiFUmI8eC_TeW4wWad/s1628/1676546989758.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV5-lawEH2gyjvj347BEx3WWXL1TcCmQi00T5qUbznY0UzOlV-lNPBbzh2L_1XNSM5WD9o-Pd_t9WpNCDzuR4gH3bw_Z2u4pSfmbMiiChtjWB14qXnOd8_l4x9zqxNwfh3t-YWZ-K0qyTRdYbe6EXbUL9kc3EiwYWjn8NeNjiFUmI8eC_TeW4wWad/s320/1676546989758.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">This week is Jorvik - the most famous Viking Festival in the north of England. Looking at the itinerary there is little in the way of events until the final weekend which is disappointing but it means the accommodation prices are lower for us. Still, York is amazing at any time so even without specific viking events there's still a good time to have. There's the viking encampment in Parliament Square, small but fun and informative. A lot of the events in the guide but so much is aimed at children, I would love to see more for the adults and maybe a viking market set up for the week (I know that would be a big commitment for traders though).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcb28sWDOO2Ph3JqpUeo5eNlJFB8sAB4ODFnLKgKXbXBy9hscVrR48TvplUIa5xZZrIiY9_h-FqdVmL0JYv1W-B5w9aPIbgkatDPFnAs3aE75UvtvCN5UECwGNMmTi5-QJSui7K0vLx8uzHQOZWb1O1y0PEXGciJtEV5iygFR6aJ3AhBDdW-5RYZ9/s1628/1676547193615.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcb28sWDOO2Ph3JqpUeo5eNlJFB8sAB4ODFnLKgKXbXBy9hscVrR48TvplUIa5xZZrIiY9_h-FqdVmL0JYv1W-B5w9aPIbgkatDPFnAs3aE75UvtvCN5UECwGNMmTi5-QJSui7K0vLx8uzHQOZWb1O1y0PEXGciJtEV5iygFR6aJ3AhBDdW-5RYZ9/s320/1676547193615.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The best find in the city was the Valhalla Bar on Patrick Pool. A viking themed bar with a good selection of drinks including 2 local real ales and local gins as well as mead as would be expected. It's on 3 floors with the bar on the ground and the impressive Alfather's Hall at the top. We probably spent too much time here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGNEVRCLMkzZAC3ldXMf8IK4_eDMg4FYCevq9_jgr5uHtVfpO3WKRYWGkUo6gMXEl_aRUMFmxg4peaYZB-keURMYWK1irN88-5XXNbHdelC9QMmYpj5vB8vW3S8KPcw4Yg1GY13vx4sqgNHERE3zRhg5sCGx5RM1AHDaCJJDva3ooPyU_7j98UfSc/s1628/1676547282876.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGNEVRCLMkzZAC3ldXMf8IK4_eDMg4FYCevq9_jgr5uHtVfpO3WKRYWGkUo6gMXEl_aRUMFmxg4peaYZB-keURMYWK1irN88-5XXNbHdelC9QMmYpj5vB8vW3S8KPcw4Yg1GY13vx4sqgNHERE3zRhg5sCGx5RM1AHDaCJJDva3ooPyU_7j98UfSc/s320/1676547282876.png" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">We took in the history, the quirky shops on quirky medical streets. We checked out the historic pubs some of which were awesome, others not so.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It was an overnight stay, and definitely on a budget. We stayed in a private en-suite room in a hostel on Micklegate. Just a short trip into the centre and close to plenty of cafes and shops, and a Wetherspoons* for a cheap breakfast.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">*as much as I hate giving my money to a 'Spoons they are reliable for cheap food.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">York is amazing, in fact we want to come back soon and probably again next year. The festival might be just buzzing in the background on the first weekend but it attracts people who love the vikings, people like me - my people!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">[Us enjoying York]</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2302.14 19:30 - Sat in the York Tap (a pub in the railway station waiting for our train(s) home. I've loved our weekend away. Can't wait to do it again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGqxT636S33fX7pfVQ4gUhEUtgDoM9QLYT-4uKwiInuS90qrprgPOaSJtiaALLhiS6IlZ5zxrmYf8sXnsIYKdrlSk0cx_GyaT9BCdWwagkc7KLy0sRwW1A54H1zfLFQrSwhG8ztQ5LuqN6psLxpDgvjLKOR9_ViMfRpbORsMw0frPoQ29QxxR74te/s1628/1676547489486.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGqxT636S33fX7pfVQ4gUhEUtgDoM9QLYT-4uKwiInuS90qrprgPOaSJtiaALLhiS6IlZ5zxrmYf8sXnsIYKdrlSk0cx_GyaT9BCdWwagkc7KLy0sRwW1A54H1zfLFQrSwhG8ztQ5LuqN6psLxpDgvjLKOR9_ViMfRpbORsMw0frPoQ29QxxR74te/s320/1676547489486.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">21:59 - After a tight connection at Leeds and a broken toilet on the train (that I was keen to use) we arrived at Meadowhall Train Station, a taxi awaits to take us home.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKWGEMx2d-78965n3VImMvTy3uE7UTe1pj3hOq0hB9rUwnR8M8TgecbgMW01w1mkW3R3Gt3f2iERmjKc4M7jdSwNjESHznyGc5JJ_HMNsm_wcrpn61LbFLyCUrI-I0XF_oHeC3MWbojb-HHgMxx-aA1LAkZ3AmIq7lBpqpLeC5pOA_0w94gc6VFr_/s1628/1676547577027.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKWGEMx2d-78965n3VImMvTy3uE7UTe1pj3hOq0hB9rUwnR8M8TgecbgMW01w1mkW3R3Gt3f2iERmjKc4M7jdSwNjESHznyGc5JJ_HMNsm_wcrpn61LbFLyCUrI-I0XF_oHeC3MWbojb-HHgMxx-aA1LAkZ3AmIq7lBpqpLeC5pOA_0w94gc6VFr_/s320/1676547577027.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: medium;">Memories of Jorvik!</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-44226632964109416872023-02-07T09:00:00.012+00:002023-02-07T09:00:00.165+00:002302.07 FREINDSHIPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEExyTAf8oSZR49hl1Zzf70RyYwsIBgD-5Ss94ghPQed6dWkSleiDaaD6ltmKfImZfGYGJCbcGdaAw6y1pQlI5Iyql2ujx2qZY3KQICaqb6bXVVlgjDDjkmHBM57mOteTJ9NZJpOA26cB12yfM1lLFmTDGdJo6F-VbKsHiz83QGyHvm41Mh938TIJ5/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEExyTAf8oSZR49hl1Zzf70RyYwsIBgD-5Ss94ghPQed6dWkSleiDaaD6ltmKfImZfGYGJCbcGdaAw6y1pQlI5Iyql2ujx2qZY3KQICaqb6bXVVlgjDDjkmHBM57mOteTJ9NZJpOA26cB12yfM1lLFmTDGdJo6F-VbKsHiz83QGyHvm41Mh938TIJ5/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(4).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">Recently I've been thinking about friends. I don't have many friends really, they do say it's quality over quantity. That said I do notice most people around me (save a few) have loads of them.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">My favourite TV comedies usually entail male friendships, the best do. "The Likely Lads", "Still Game" and "Men Behaving Badly" all portray this freindship even "On the Buses", "Blackadder" and "Porridge" fit the mold. I'm also of an age where I'm heavily reliant on nostalgia. I love 70s and 80s situation comedy, they might not reflect positive attitudes but I love them the same. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Recently I bought the box set of the "Likely Lads" and the follow up series "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads" after watching a few episodes of the latter on a nostalgic TV channel and I realised I'd never seen the original former. They were cheap so got a bargain.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_gznEpPY1GH5U81FhG2_9aH-_NVh7I0EJKWULt9P3lVyiOLkVoTduertq5cKj-WBXZj-meqG220H4e7YclLTNFASxcDmh7T7uAXtto3qvcnmT6bhl7hmRYwjgdbfMXbobGxL8TNeTo1Y87Lm7PqIXSZK-ivZL1htqhJ-xFzVYfrqO866aTGRMeV9/s679/81lbh32XLnL._AC_SY679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_gznEpPY1GH5U81FhG2_9aH-_NVh7I0EJKWULt9P3lVyiOLkVoTduertq5cKj-WBXZj-meqG220H4e7YclLTNFASxcDmh7T7uAXtto3qvcnmT6bhl7hmRYwjgdbfMXbobGxL8TNeTo1Y87Lm7PqIXSZK-ivZL1htqhJ-xFzVYfrqO866aTGRMeV9/s320/81lbh32XLnL._AC_SY679_.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So getting back to my opening statement about freindships... I can count my friends on one hand, even if I lost a number of fingers in a nasty industrial accident. Sure I have a lot of people I know, and there are the people who were friends but our lives have moved in different directions. I'm talking about those friends you can count on to help you bury a body if need be. Scientific study shows a person has between 3 to 5 close friends usually out of hundreds of connections. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So is it OK that I feel like I'm on the low side? I'm happy with it, my best friend has been with me since we were 16 and hopefully they're not going anywhere soon.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-32488918946652216162023-01-01T12:00:00.071+00:002023-01-01T12:00:00.166+00:002301.01 VIVA LA RESOLUTION!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeWgoMLK58WCBOjjfj0UQMHRKPj4RYZOYgfDaTLq2Ve1SxEqxBJiTpCvaLWJX5wuUeuynOBN84pwISwfa2gG4iv-tu8iNWGH1ab3C3z4fr6IMKq5YyS18U8DZpLHVL3iY25ohbf0n_VYm4HU5lbuUfe2or6Jw-Ws7rIFtGHLGKGqHITJRaEDyfpzA/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeWgoMLK58WCBOjjfj0UQMHRKPj4RYZOYgfDaTLq2Ve1SxEqxBJiTpCvaLWJX5wuUeuynOBN84pwISwfa2gG4iv-tu8iNWGH1ab3C3z4fr6IMKq5YyS18U8DZpLHVL3iY25ohbf0n_VYm4HU5lbuUfe2or6Jw-Ws7rIFtGHLGKGqHITJRaEDyfpzA/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker;">For some years now I've stated that resolutions are not for me.</span><span><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker;"> Instead I usually set myself 3 achievable tasks, this year is no different.</span><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2022 was not a great year, full of uncertainty and worry. My hope for this year is that most of that will settle and we can get on with living. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Before I go any further I'm going to recap on the Yule period. The lead up our household was ravaged by a nasty cold virus which affected us all. It did dampen the main day a little although we did put in a bit of effort to make it work. On the eve we visited our eldest daughter's flat for seasonal nibbles and gift giving.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1K9XZRX_NZY7FJzP_aMbLuuRdy2rcFjsy3_h2Bz7fQrmvUGZP0fBfeb1mtvRQvQlXi3S0qQCxoSAcxp53YoQOnnv8Vg0XKJh9sx43sQKEDn8pF6DSat0vow-sdROseaGcCQk0glXjZ3illbgR_nWkVLPr5QFjTcLxKmJco8ZXw1yHWe-MKcOpn8C/s1628/1672486580675.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1K9XZRX_NZY7FJzP_aMbLuuRdy2rcFjsy3_h2Bz7fQrmvUGZP0fBfeb1mtvRQvQlXi3S0qQCxoSAcxp53YoQOnnv8Vg0XKJh9sx43sQKEDn8pF6DSat0vow-sdROseaGcCQk0glXjZ3illbgR_nWkVLPr5QFjTcLxKmJco8ZXw1yHWe-MKcOpn8C/s320/1672486580675.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">On Christmas Day an old friend of mine passed away suddenly. Simon was an old mate from my bus driving days. We used to have such laughs, especially on the night staff bus when we'd get a few drinks and talk the driver into dropping us off last so we could enjoy the ride. He died on the other side of the world where he planned to make a new life with his wife and kids. The shock hit me like a train, we still chatted online and even though I'd not seen him for some years I felt the sting of loss by his passing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK7Ke9QYM7xKokM_qAG457FQpz1tCy0hjgBFRo-kNBKE9vJ66lUJmp3ClTnr3sJvRS1kqMf9Wsu-mkAnS9imLKZQBePnTDv5p_8PI793AiAmUfYXLichcbwhTAn6-xd5O9_-nnk7j2PuvHYOhbr-haY-vi9AOIo-o3ogv5a5vzQTRYOBrOEiZ5OdA/s1628/1672104319469.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK7Ke9QYM7xKokM_qAG457FQpz1tCy0hjgBFRo-kNBKE9vJ66lUJmp3ClTnr3sJvRS1kqMf9Wsu-mkAnS9imLKZQBePnTDv5p_8PI793AiAmUfYXLichcbwhTAn6-xd5O9_-nnk7j2PuvHYOhbr-haY-vi9AOIo-o3ogv5a5vzQTRYOBrOEiZ5OdA/s320/1672104319469.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There's one thing great about being older if you are lucky and that is you find yourself. Maybe a trauma or just a surety with age brings it out but when you do discover it I believe it's important to grab on with both hands and ride the shit out of it. I have never been as comfortable in my own skin as I have these past years. I know who I am and don't give a shit what anyone else says. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So let's get down to those tasks I set for last year, how did I do?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><strike>1. Continue drawing and expand your artistic outlets.</strike></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><span style="font-size: large;">My Northman cartoon strip is doing ok. Likes have stagnated on Insta but they've been pushing video lately so I guess that might have something to do with it. I launched a new webpage to showcase the strip, <a href="northman.kirt.me.uk" target="_blank">northman.kirt.me.uk</a>. I've also continued my pyrography in a limited fashion.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOrFaU8_IacureDJhTQIbDFHPfErqZ880XiI16EL8yhSp4ZZgsasBQL8zgTSB35ny6z5WIV3Sx0HjIQt1HMip_OBDsvCpzepoGAtaa9KcZV5Mez54oD6qR4MKAW_U_GJYPF6ZqIE6jIhBO34FS-2o2SFh0BBDtyn7oUDpnlZIOPa7iek-KsRfjGks/s800/178%20comp_copy_800x800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOrFaU8_IacureDJhTQIbDFHPfErqZ880XiI16EL8yhSp4ZZgsasBQL8zgTSB35ny6z5WIV3Sx0HjIQt1HMip_OBDsvCpzepoGAtaa9KcZV5Mez54oD6qR4MKAW_U_GJYPF6ZqIE6jIhBO34FS-2o2SFh0BBDtyn7oUDpnlZIOPa7iek-KsRfjGks/s320/178%20comp_copy_800x800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">2. Get out on that bike, see more and do more cycling! It's not just about commuting...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>Although I've been getting those commuting miles in I've not been leisure riding at all this year. My covid lungs make it difficult. I'm calling this one a fail.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN-zP8oytjy8UBofJbo1MHf2N54h23dQom-0SBqB3NDMRDZWXFU6cRpAs1WY6M5JyXRBTLuIk9GueujPeNHG_LTBVvfwEGz4LZklwPpRfsJ9zqfdLi9D3capI8ZkGH890a2XG7JDa6TURj277QJRmJx08MY7hT1vJr_ChF2c3Zn5yCWj6wLNRTPER/s2160/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN-zP8oytjy8UBofJbo1MHf2N54h23dQom-0SBqB3NDMRDZWXFU6cRpAs1WY6M5JyXRBTLuIk9GueujPeNHG_LTBVvfwEGz4LZklwPpRfsJ9zqfdLi9D3capI8ZkGH890a2XG7JDa6TURj277QJRmJx08MY7hT1vJr_ChF2c3Zn5yCWj6wLNRTPER/s320/download.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">3. Get out more, be more social - the kids are all grown up, go out and have a few beers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>Mixed feelings on this one. Although I've gotten out the cost of living has prevented me for fulfilling this task to it's fullest. Could have definitely done better.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I'd better set myself the 3 goals for this year. Hmmm, where should I go here?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>1. The old cycling chestnut, I want to do more recreational cycling. Hopefully in the summer I'll get out more if the old covid lungs let me.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>2. Make time (budget allowing) to socialise and get out. Visit more places and do more things. Enjoy your time with family and friends.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>3. Spend more time in quiet contemplation. Learn to take some time for yourself. Avoid wasting time.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>If I survive the year we'll see how I get on.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><span style="font-size: large;">So with that I leave you for now, have a happy new year. I still await invaders from another planet who, let's face it, couldn't do a worse job than the arsehole leaders we currently have.</span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-4523507404364335922022-12-25T15:00:00.100+00:002022-12-31T12:38:39.863+00:002212.25 THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVdm49tv5I-yuIGJsOnmIjW1SMv5uOZ1VQ7u2kXdJyyLggMF8kaDCbnRvSwgmN9gO4noR_zOl5AwwOPhe-AUefg-abFriJzxTk4EfsJglY0_OPdeBZN96ag9PVwB7_tWSzkaHyGBQFtHcYBn226jDLElQRpFnQ6B-oNCeP4A5-QPv8hNF2quVnbKf/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVdm49tv5I-yuIGJsOnmIjW1SMv5uOZ1VQ7u2kXdJyyLggMF8kaDCbnRvSwgmN9gO4noR_zOl5AwwOPhe-AUefg-abFriJzxTk4EfsJglY0_OPdeBZN96ag9PVwB7_tWSzkaHyGBQFtHcYBn226jDLElQRpFnQ6B-oNCeP4A5-QPv8hNF2quVnbKf/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Permanent Marker"; font-size: large;">If we thought 2021 was bad 2022 said "hold my beer". Covid is reduced to a background issue now, we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis with prices and inflation flying upwards. Then there's the energy prices which are scarily high and are having to be capped (slightly) with government intervention. Life in 2022 is so much more expensive. This has lead to strikes and hardships across the land. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So whilst we are "free" to mingle and socialise during this Yule season most are feeling the pinch and are having to dial back the celebrations. But the important stuff is to be with your people, family and friends are everything.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Remembering…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It's been a big year. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and then the passing of said Queen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGne1gx_NVQOhz7knuGbdgalOPxL5oGta9f6ZSLjxRej8l0ZTzjjw7TCLsKhLh5q0Ji6E7S10HPvjzl6AeT1ZITz1YfiomZm03qVhnPKCPd6JsCg4Pt2FIMylnNCNx50usf37rzY4SQuBjhTXuwD_hwXqHq3eOFvkbLbLQ33OXHA-D-t1qInZJ8gbU/s1628/1671925788454.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGne1gx_NVQOhz7knuGbdgalOPxL5oGta9f6ZSLjxRej8l0ZTzjjw7TCLsKhLh5q0Ji6E7S10HPvjzl6AeT1ZITz1YfiomZm03qVhnPKCPd6JsCg4Pt2FIMylnNCNx50usf37rzY4SQuBjhTXuwD_hwXqHq3eOFvkbLbLQ33OXHA-D-t1qInZJ8gbU/s320/1671925788454.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So this year we have a new King, King Charles III - this is historically a big deal. Also we've had three prime ministers (so far, the year isn't quite over) and the government blew a £30 billion hole in the economy.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8-ZayAykuxSn_SdeF1AfFH11aKsQ-nN1QR-0kbSlnhyAMuc_L3_oWPwnl2CjtIcgIYtOD_hGHaVnp74PIlUBH_QSsvQ_oTwQAEkqrJGJZTWCNrwWoKqm8LvtV3hO0-6Vd-H8toRzk4pU_GHVxVGphH_0ATl6SZo2yInO4UpPzqZ51YOXIWfm04Gc/s1628/1671925816660.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8-ZayAykuxSn_SdeF1AfFH11aKsQ-nN1QR-0kbSlnhyAMuc_L3_oWPwnl2CjtIcgIYtOD_hGHaVnp74PIlUBH_QSsvQ_oTwQAEkqrJGJZTWCNrwWoKqm8LvtV3hO0-6Vd-H8toRzk4pU_GHVxVGphH_0ATl6SZo2yInO4UpPzqZ51YOXIWfm04Gc/s320/1671925816660.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand"; font-size: large;">This was also the year of my youngest daughter's 21st birthday and the year Morticia and I got to be at the Crucible Theatre for the World Snooker Championship and also the Seniors.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6WPjiy-I9qpsQgYyC35DrxU1CQB6pohVSSulbcsHVx5sH-pyzWXv8l75Og6N3Smy0rc27Yfejzmz-12WcUVnx2MYazjq8s0Dp1u50YjEIAEiBHylFsf9KYzRsCj8_2LtibTJDTOAzy7wERjT9zCTgEIoU9QZa8aSr1seh4jaZdn-8JrBTmID5hfP/s1628/1671926017117.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6WPjiy-I9qpsQgYyC35DrxU1CQB6pohVSSulbcsHVx5sH-pyzWXv8l75Og6N3Smy0rc27Yfejzmz-12WcUVnx2MYazjq8s0Dp1u50YjEIAEiBHylFsf9KYzRsCj8_2LtibTJDTOAzy7wERjT9zCTgEIoU9QZa8aSr1seh4jaZdn-8JrBTmID5hfP/s320/1671926017117.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Happy About…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">These days aren't great, things are pretty stagnant for us which is a shame, this is a time of my life where I feel I should be enjoying things. I was proud this year when my role at work hit an important milestone.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgradwiKY6uueXjHPjZp9clsqyTYeQkInVYTqQrJV7Zp0sxhzR8iaHskM3-EDQaVSVSyb3gJ4GGI3s2VKdHWie3uSbZZGsH_5cv2J2fB7-2zu7SyKjyqAPyEL5LzM7VSHQR3jQeMkQX4ahWl-OFVSjrTAJXBXrDftRRwV9bV7rwBJm8kSQRssTE9VyL/s601/PCSO-FacebookCover5-pdf_edit_1383095791850413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="601" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgradwiKY6uueXjHPjZp9clsqyTYeQkInVYTqQrJV7Zp0sxhzR8iaHskM3-EDQaVSVSyb3gJ4GGI3s2VKdHWie3uSbZZGsH_5cv2J2fB7-2zu7SyKjyqAPyEL5LzM7VSHQR3jQeMkQX4ahWl-OFVSjrTAJXBXrDftRRwV9bV7rwBJm8kSQRssTE9VyL/s320/PCSO-FacebookCover5-pdf_edit_1383095791850413.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Worried About…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The future. High prices and stagnant wages mean uncertainty and I'm not keen on all that. Times are hard and I'm not sure how much further we can be pushed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Annoyed About…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The state of the world and the appalling leadership that prioritises the rich over wider society, where public services are seen as commodities that can be sold for profit. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Looking Forward To, What I Have Planned…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Well it's difficult to plan with all the uncertainties we have at the moment. I have no plans for anything at the moment. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Loving...</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiI0NGavlH2ZnY8h9LRG1YuiGD55XofSuvbl_sWScZ02GML3MtZ8qfQ_ywS8h06fVk3gLA526XVq4ZmlHRvbWNNEYKSNfbx9a9vyrQOFEBfIO1BkLUv8VM9fYfB8nQa45FFU1WhAzNsHIe7gLOFbRlGSC25EJ4LoVV6uzsK2RIzKq6yegpAZFjz_B/s1628/1671925897196.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiI0NGavlH2ZnY8h9LRG1YuiGD55XofSuvbl_sWScZ02GML3MtZ8qfQ_ywS8h06fVk3gLA526XVq4ZmlHRvbWNNEYKSNfbx9a9vyrQOFEBfIO1BkLUv8VM9fYfB8nQa45FFU1WhAzNsHIe7gLOFbRlGSC25EJ4LoVV6uzsK2RIzKq6yegpAZFjz_B/s320/1671925897196.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">My dog. I said the same last year as he came into our lives when we need him. He has grown into a loyal, fun and loving friend. I live for our walks every day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What We’ve Been Up To…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Nothing spectacular springs to mind really. We had our usual holiday in Wales (which I wouldn't ever want to miss) and we attended the Viking Music Festival again which was awesome.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwPoXSvCqYZo3vUM6_coW4pO-R0OO3JqTf3zR0Wi0r6uTj6Oi0k1GiEYYG0rTqQrlGYTabpndDhrgAf9XFRYdGw8jvMig5YXeUvbWaUtZjL8Hj0Vc27pIPkAPi-vFGOAxkL4NpdS0M61kSFCBmg-oVYBllD6be2_23dcmvdOr88tilHWlO3AqESdr/s1628/1671925956114.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwPoXSvCqYZo3vUM6_coW4pO-R0OO3JqTf3zR0Wi0r6uTj6Oi0k1GiEYYG0rTqQrlGYTabpndDhrgAf9XFRYdGw8jvMig5YXeUvbWaUtZjL8Hj0Vc27pIPkAPi-vFGOAxkL4NpdS0M61kSFCBmg-oVYBllD6be2_23dcmvdOr88tilHWlO3AqESdr/s320/1671925956114.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Although as I previously mentioned, we did go see the snooker when Morticia won an online competition. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKRkOZ1p5r7kaC0-BkzhV6b9hlA-IPfCwl6tMYUae2LnKweJvRvBBvFJRBdFFDsERojqiDw03uum2vJ_BG4L7heOv6X7lcfQpLlf1cuPP1ivxmb_FwyeJX6jaLfo8d0Ye2TaNZAIJtgDeZlax-SY_op0qCP_pt1Ct3BtiogswznE9R20Loy18z8N/s1628/1671926097448.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeKRkOZ1p5r7kaC0-BkzhV6b9hlA-IPfCwl6tMYUae2LnKweJvRvBBvFJRBdFFDsERojqiDw03uum2vJ_BG4L7heOv6X7lcfQpLlf1cuPP1ivxmb_FwyeJX6jaLfo8d0Ye2TaNZAIJtgDeZlax-SY_op0qCP_pt1Ct3BtiogswznE9R20Loy18z8N/s320/1671926097448.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I’m Watching...</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Telly is great, don't listen to the snobs. The medium is going through a golden time at the moment, there's some brilliant stuff out there.... Star Trek is big at the moment. New series 'Strange New Worlds' (Paramount+) is brilliant and well worth a look. Tim Burton's new reimagined version of the Addams Family, 'Wednesday' (Netflix) is TV gold. I also got into some classics, 'NYPD Blue' and 'Hill Street Blues'. This year we said goodbye to the comedy panel show 'Mock the Week' as the BBC unjustly cancelled it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>What I Need To Do…</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I need to get out and live. Enjoy life, socialise and live my best life. I also think I'd like to push my covid lungs to the max and do more recreational cycling. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Yule is a time to stop and think. Look at what you have and be grateful for it. There are so many in the world who are in a worse situation, especially at the moment. It's also a time to think of those no longer with us, and those who came before.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So, as I always say, let's raise a glass, goblet or horn of your favourite beverage....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Cheers ! Iechyd da ! Skål ! makien cheres ! Na zdrowie</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand"; font-size: large;">Sláinte ! 干杯 ! Proost ! Prost ! Будем здоровы</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>YULE FELICITATIONS ONE AND ALL!</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iU-Uz_TcoVgmUAOEEcwbdTfUQ3k9c_NS1hWfk_VW_9xSiZG3fieYLmoNnA8bNObDT0EVWQBwUmRBHGfOfcxIqF6za9E_uBBEEggxLdHxUD-xYCZLLIb_7h59yd0gteu5JxdPE-G_oNUju4W6q8V5l8-l1redvaweMnl6ZyKg16iEBE-lxCyiQpf9/s960/FB_IMG_1671893781354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iU-Uz_TcoVgmUAOEEcwbdTfUQ3k9c_NS1hWfk_VW_9xSiZG3fieYLmoNnA8bNObDT0EVWQBwUmRBHGfOfcxIqF6za9E_uBBEEggxLdHxUD-xYCZLLIb_7h59yd0gteu5JxdPE-G_oNUju4W6q8V5l8-l1redvaweMnl6ZyKg16iEBE-lxCyiQpf9/w320-h200/FB_IMG_1671893781354.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-38215397002679796912022-12-19T12:06:00.048+00:002022-12-19T12:48:59.910+00:002212.19 THE GREAT FESTIVE TV ROUNDUP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu9i8z3dp6wBnPFqfmng8Ao4zXQfISWvSil_aL7zNhG4bECVC-n0XvvHFPAaDpe18uHxu5hhjP4qvGFWdPLYInNA-LXEVKw2chsM3lcokKAuEXsy7V9jAgc62ZmbtnLK3r8LRL1nfZ9wB19Y2HzBj4ratydiGoQwm7VuA2K9Xbl8b2_IWhs0_TMFa/s1600/Blog%20Post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu9i8z3dp6wBnPFqfmng8Ao4zXQfISWvSil_aL7zNhG4bECVC-n0XvvHFPAaDpe18uHxu5hhjP4qvGFWdPLYInNA-LXEVKw2chsM3lcokKAuEXsy7V9jAgc62ZmbtnLK3r8LRL1nfZ9wB19Y2HzBj4ratydiGoQwm7VuA2K9Xbl8b2_IWhs0_TMFa/w400-h266/Blog%20Post.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><span>It's the time of year where I buy the festive copy of the <strike>Radio Times</strike> generic listings magazine and, armed with a highlighter pen, I go through and pick out the programmes I want to watch. I know in the age of multi- channel TV and streaming this might seem archaic but it's a practice and tradition I enjoy and hope to continue for many years.</span><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The first thing to address is the lack of an actual copy of the Radio Times. Well, times are hard and the cost could really not be justified this year. Maybe next year. As they say, other listings magazines are available.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Secondly I thought I'd address the heathen in the room and look at the use of the word "Christmas". I don't have a problem with using the word, some in my 'community' do. If you wish me a "Merry Christmas" I will return the sentiment. I will use Yule or "festive season" to describe this time of year though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">So let's get back to business... </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Patrick Hand";">here's the rules;</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">No films (although feature length 'made for TV' are fine).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Festive fayre is preferred but not essential.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Nothing that would ordinarily be in the schedule unless it's a festive special. It's strictly my taste so you might find it heavy on the comedy.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Now because of the way the listings magazines are dated they don't start until Saturday 23rd but first I'll look at the stuff before.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>Stuff you might have missed...</u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Joe Lycett Vs David Beckham: A Got Your Back Christmas Special</b> (first broadcast on 15th) catch up on All4.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>The story behind the story with the comedian and consumer champion.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Bad Education Reunion</b> (first broadcast on 15th) catch up on iPlayer.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>A return of Jack Whitehall in his school comedy.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand"; font-size: large;"><u><b>19th December</b></u></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZqpEAu6VZk2bj0nsxUo8RjasZmzd_UNvbA6jzqXlxe083ISzWQJq5O5hRCBYIfeWzrc_nAjyl2he76Zd3-5umqNlLN2rv-JajgBbCjevZVV6DGb7NNTgz4m3Kf7bAoCihFEBzJ4MTZRjxJbyx_z-lRzGcw_1qdPxGj1RqwVUii8ETKKIdoUwm8zv/s1628/1671447797750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZqpEAu6VZk2bj0nsxUo8RjasZmzd_UNvbA6jzqXlxe083ISzWQJq5O5hRCBYIfeWzrc_nAjyl2he76Zd3-5umqNlLN2rv-JajgBbCjevZVV6DGb7NNTgz4m3Kf7bAoCihFEBzJ4MTZRjxJbyx_z-lRzGcw_1qdPxGj1RqwVUii8ETKKIdoUwm8zv/s320/1671447797750.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>QI XL</b> - the extended festive edition (BBC2 9pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>Who doesn't love QI?</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Noel At The Apollo</b> (BBC2 9:45pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i><span>Stand up comedy at the iconic venue.</span><span> </span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><u><b>22nd December</b></u> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Inside No. 9</b> (BBC2 9pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>If you've never seen this series you need to check it out. It's an anthology series so you can jump straight in.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>So let's start with the magazine...</u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><u><b>23rd December</b></u> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There's a bumper offering today, here's the highlights;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Little Red Riding Hood: After Ever After</b> (Sky Max 8pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>A different look at the classic fairy story.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Cleaner</b> (BBC1 9pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i><span>Greg Davis returns as the forensic cleaner, love to see how this gets festive.</span><span> </span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown</b> - Christmas Special (Ch4 9pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i><span>Comedy panel show with words and numbers.</span><span> </span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Motherland - Last Christmas</b> (BBC1 9:30pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>Festive special of the parental comedy.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Last Leg Christmas Special</b> (Ch4 10pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i><span>Topical comedy.</span><span> </span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLGyc-HNXSVZ3fyMKt7xAn8wXVIty3KtD2_PWdIPU4ItqSgYS1HuFEHcFRk98dVPy3HsrkCS7sPxOuFpr_EEIpIZ1w_XRIrXrrdICqccsm_OudQ-u--bWzhCXWssdT0BFPnCgEZdKrOxMddUgbsCDafXYPuAkPxkGvJfelwq8k3Xiz8yw-ny6WWhC/s1628/1671447844881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLGyc-HNXSVZ3fyMKt7xAn8wXVIty3KtD2_PWdIPU4ItqSgYS1HuFEHcFRk98dVPy3HsrkCS7sPxOuFpr_EEIpIZ1w_XRIrXrrdICqccsm_OudQ-u--bWzhCXWssdT0BFPnCgEZdKrOxMddUgbsCDafXYPuAkPxkGvJfelwq8k3Xiz8yw-ny6WWhC/s320/1671447844881.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Two Doors Down</b> (BBC1 10:05pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Scottish sitcom at Christmas.</span><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>Christmas Eve</u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzIOetnZDUp00vQXbqqenCPYXOaqRQMOfK2JhlixmA4FanT6XZ1OZnH-dKRWJC-cGclwsUz6khi7S9x_j4qH84CA_GTe3v5MvFQuT-s6GC4PDjGMySlbiZ0l_3mf41Q69cMWeXWXJFhkiVdGx5b0ZCvYPcyebX6G93zqTcmp1JiZvk5V-dRR2SsrK/s1628/1671448314705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzIOetnZDUp00vQXbqqenCPYXOaqRQMOfK2JhlixmA4FanT6XZ1OZnH-dKRWJC-cGclwsUz6khi7S9x_j4qH84CA_GTe3v5MvFQuT-s6GC4PDjGMySlbiZ0l_3mf41Q69cMWeXWXJFhkiVdGx5b0ZCvYPcyebX6G93zqTcmp1JiZvk5V-dRR2SsrK/s320/1671448314705.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><span>Christmas Carole</span></b><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"> (Sky Max 8pm)</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><span style="font-size: large;">A new and modern retelling of the classic Dickins' tale. This is my Captain's Choice of the season.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Great Christmas Bake Off</b> (Ch4 8:25pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Who doesn't love a bit of cake at Yuletide? A fun special edition of this iconic baking contest.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>Christmas Day</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbruV_p0hTacV7odFvqbWyn13SXx5RjPggSJQQHjz2OwPDuhnrslaHfXK3WimrZ9Rc8KyCU6yT_0Fb3i7lQ59XkKPc0InieYi5VTrG1RIW6Gb8wbfnvT26u8BRqyYolkY00hsbjzOdo-4hboTz3kdITF_EQipBEu19pX8rTtCcsIOe6aCl4Rzw-dG/s1628/1671447885800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbruV_p0hTacV7odFvqbWyn13SXx5RjPggSJQQHjz2OwPDuhnrslaHfXK3WimrZ9Rc8KyCU6yT_0Fb3i7lQ59XkKPc0InieYi5VTrG1RIW6Gb8wbfnvT26u8BRqyYolkY00hsbjzOdo-4hboTz3kdITF_EQipBEu19pX8rTtCcsIOe6aCl4Rzw-dG/s320/1671447885800.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">Ghosts</b><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><span> (BBC1 7:25pm)</span><br /><span>The brilliantly funny comedy returns for a special with the spooky inhabiants of Button Hall. There is an American version but this is the original and the best.</span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Doc Martin</b> (ITV1 9:05pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The final ever episode is also it's first seasonal special. Time to say goodbye to the residents of Portwenn, hankys ready.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>Boxing Day</u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Repair Shop at Christmas</b><span> (BBC1 8pm)</span><br /><span>I love Repair Shop, more emotional restorations.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VcsZDmuTrDczeOsecQBE6aSr80wFqSo0SaLkYuFTZV4cq1bS5GLHfY4UaTwh5JuBXRZTVl3qqC1vyBpz6tczVx6SQDWWDgRUU-us8StDCK9ySsOAxWUWV4LpgQtSV_FYj1by9Fzoq7r-2QkSvddJcPnhG7Ud3bOxn2BedQJdfJbI93fri7r4whbL/s1628/1671447916921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VcsZDmuTrDczeOsecQBE6aSr80wFqSo0SaLkYuFTZV4cq1bS5GLHfY4UaTwh5JuBXRZTVl3qqC1vyBpz6tczVx6SQDWWDgRUU-us8StDCK9ySsOAxWUWV4LpgQtSV_FYj1by9Fzoq7r-2QkSvddJcPnhG7Ud3bOxn2BedQJdfJbI93fri7r4whbL/s320/1671447916921.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand"; font-size: large;"><b>Death in Paradise Christmas Special</b><span> (BBC1 9pm)</span><br /><span>The long running murder mystery drama returns, a bit of sunshine on these dark and cold days.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span><b>Big Fat Quiz of the Year</b> (Ch4 9pm)</span><br /><span>A bit of a ritual in our house is sitting down to the comedy quiz of the year with Jimmy Carr.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span><b>Rob Beckett Wallop!</b> (Sky Showcase 9pm)</span><br /><span>Live stand up.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>27th December</u></b> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Frankie Boyle's New World Order</b><span> (BBC2 10pm)</span><br /><span>Not for the easily shocked, Frankie delivers a review of 2022.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>28th December</u></b> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Mayfield</b><span> (BBC1 9pm)</span><br /><span>A 2 part drama exploring freindship.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Jon & Lucy's Party of the Year</b><span> (Ch4 9pm)</span><br /><span>Married comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont host a party for some of their funny friends.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>29th December</u></b> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>John Bishop's End of the Year Show</b><span> (ITV1 9:35pm)</span><br /><span>Celeb guests and comedy.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><span>Prince Andrew: The Musical</span></b><span> (Ch4 9pm)</span><br /><span>No idea what to expect here, but I just have to watch this.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span><b>Katherine Ryan: Missus</b> (Sky Comedy 9pm)</span><br /><span>Stand up comedy.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>30th December</u></b> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Jason Manford: Recent Nostalgia</b><span> (BBC1 10:30pm)</span><br /><span>Stand up comedy.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>New Year's Eve </u></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">It's all 'end of the year' review shows tonight...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Last Leg of the Year</b> (Ch4 9pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><i>followed by Adam Hills live.</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Graham Norton New Year's Eve Show</b> (BBC1 10:25pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan Ross' New Year Comedy Special</b> (ITV1 10:35pm)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b><u>New Year's Day</u></b> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><span><b>The Great New Year Bake Off</b> (Ch4 7:40pm)</span><br /><span>More cake.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEV3Pf1p6KCqzHq41ffUVLCzlRjo7hJJfi4wpVw63ODLmDU_80kNhXtCCz1WaZa7ZRK0Ut8CeN30fFpQoxKmcLvhO1thjLEU5IDrVHCcGDRMIzNmcWpO-LkRAj2PuJ-Zg6K1p3zyNIepM4a6HWuN0DN1jJ6P7--LCu1JWUYGhlDvygVk1eu-x3R6g/s1628/1671447939273.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1628" data-original-width="1628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEV3Pf1p6KCqzHq41ffUVLCzlRjo7hJJfi4wpVw63ODLmDU_80kNhXtCCz1WaZa7ZRK0Ut8CeN30fFpQoxKmcLvhO1thjLEU5IDrVHCcGDRMIzNmcWpO-LkRAj2PuJ-Zg6K1p3zyNIepM4a6HWuN0DN1jJ6P7--LCu1JWUYGhlDvygVk1eu-x3R6g/s320/1671447939273.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">Taskmaster New Year Treat</b><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"> (Ch4 9pm)</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Start a new year with the comedy task based celebrity special.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So there's a few days left over in the magazine but although Yuletide goes through to the 3rd the TV specials fizzle out at this point. Most people I know will have started to pack away the decorations and prepare to take on the new year.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So there you have it, my telly round up for another year. Of course the list is not exhausive and because we live in an age of multi channel TV and EPGs I'm bound to have missed something.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">So this brings me onto Streaming. There's way too much to cover but I'll pickout a couple of gems;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Falling for Christmas</b> (Netflix)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Lindsay Lohan stars</span><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Spirited</b> (Apple TV+)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Ryan Renolds and Will Ferrell stars in another go at the Dickins classic.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>The Santa Clauses</b> (Disney+)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Tim Allen returns with a short run series which is the sequel to his Santa Clause movies.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special</b> (Disney+)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">No idea what to expect but can't wait to check it out.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><b>Your Christmas or Mine</b> (Prime)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Sentimental fun when a couple decide to surprise each other by turning up at each others homes.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">There is so much choice that I can't pick out everything but hopefully I've inspired you to have a flick through the channels and pick out your own favourites.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I do always manage to watch the Whatever Happened to the <b>LIkely Lads 1974 Christmas special</b>. It's on YouTube if you're interested.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-28296488792817105572022-12-03T11:46:00.003+00:002022-12-05T11:37:43.030+00:002212.03 FREEZIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu5OqJbbxdNJue0SZL6dYIv31baDuYQVRXckOZ6GrqjFjNS7xjwthGknSJemZPJuCU6SvLtDWHfjH92KRDp25m1nd5Y4j07e8ECHdYdAXQY01h5AJv5wdXLlS7dStpXgqL32Gv4AkZ34isleXXT-NMSVn3TZhw-V8KKe2nXTOuXBUj_Gkdy91cnU8/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu5OqJbbxdNJue0SZL6dYIv31baDuYQVRXckOZ6GrqjFjNS7xjwthGknSJemZPJuCU6SvLtDWHfjH92KRDp25m1nd5Y4j07e8ECHdYdAXQY01h5AJv5wdXLlS7dStpXgqL32Gv4AkZ34isleXXT-NMSVn3TZhw-V8KKe2nXTOuXBUj_Gkdy91cnU8/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(3).png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">This winter is going to be hard. Perhaps the hardest I've experienced since I was a child. Already it's cold but it's going to get colder. This post however is not about the weather.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span></span><p></p><a name="more"></a><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The cost of living is biting so many of us. Yet everywhere I look people seem to be getting on with life as normal. I'm guessing that's partly the "social media effect" combined with the fact I tend to work with a lot of middle class people.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Our house is cold, bitter. Probably not as bad as my childhood (as I remember it) before central heating was commonplace but it feels bloody chilly. Eating out is a distant memory now, not eaten in a restaurant in a very long time now. Just going out for a drink is rare also, I'm gutted because I thought at this time of my life I'd be getting out much more than I do.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">My shopping bill has gone through the roof, fuel has stablised for now but remains high and energy bills are eye watering (despite being subject to some government support). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">The forthcoming festivities need to be muted, that will be challenging - especially with Morticia's habit of getting carried away gift giving. Despite this I am looking forward to Yule, and I hope that we can prove it's not all about money. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXtMMr4g2Dt8VaQp6E-UEx_4o3Ga-8wCut5Pi60PZ2hJ4Bvn6awb3kQ4p5biTob4hHCugvk4BfPFFsQHcr6XA8nWmC9PFO95Q6n6xjPYfuPAwQLXwOw2uOB-Sc1KY-XWg8Xc6CdNBJsQ/s1600/1669763854293.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="1410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXtMMr4g2Dt8VaQp6E-UEx_4o3Ga-8wCut5Pi60PZ2hJ4Bvn6awb3kQ4p5biTob4hHCugvk4BfPFFsQHcr6XA8nWmC9PFO95Q6n6xjPYfuPAwQLXwOw2uOB-Sc1KY-XWg8Xc6CdNBJsQ/s1600/1669763854293.png" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968325.159462963821142 -36.4822183 81.779930636178833 33.8302817tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3326837928181951003.post-66566107856188639522022-11-18T13:15:00.039+00:002022-11-18T13:15:00.142+00:002211.18 EMERGENCE FROM THE DARK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgKqWOAYcQ_tl9-0U2WRcO9Zjy-pXJYtN3bVFwqHNs78lFhdigKuPdDHb_Kad2_dQMg_41fiPIahILCnOjiIAwbrIkWW_0EFuc3xjmcPAAM538gEMv1RVuKVe7ZsevJ2WcAMmeip99mtv6g7xBfXscPq6NMIug18Lmcb6yO0aYmVZaWWOUfhgsUM0/s1600/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgKqWOAYcQ_tl9-0U2WRcO9Zjy-pXJYtN3bVFwqHNs78lFhdigKuPdDHb_Kad2_dQMg_41fiPIahILCnOjiIAwbrIkWW_0EFuc3xjmcPAAM538gEMv1RVuKVe7ZsevJ2WcAMmeip99mtv6g7xBfXscPq6NMIug18Lmcb6yO0aYmVZaWWOUfhgsUM0/w400-h266/Blog%20Post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;">No I'm not talking about the current political climate, cost of living crisis or the state of the world right now. Emergence from that seems unlikely, at least anytime soon. I've marked a number of milestones this year but one of them isn't something I relish.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Permanent Marker; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">Ten years ago I was in a dark place. I just wanted to mark the passing of this milestone, I couldn't leave it to go unmentioned. Back then my life was turned upside down, I'm not about to go into the detail, I went through all that with a therapist at the time, besides my memory of those events is patchy at best. At the time I saw no way out but there was and EVERYTHING worked out. Moreso I'd say that (in hindsight anyway) I am a better person for my experiences of the time but on the otherhand I wouldn't wish my experiences on anyone (well maybe not anyone, there are a few that could use some strong life lessons).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand; font-size: large;">I am happy in my own skin now, I know who I am and I'm happy being me. My world is far from perfect but I, for once, am not the problem. I have my family, friends and a job that I enjoy (but am unappreciated in). I understand my world and feel syncronised with it. The world isn't in a great place at the moment but at least I'm not the problem.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Originally featured on To Baldly Go... www.kirt.me.uk</div>The Captainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925864669200530251noreply@blogger.com0South Yorkshire, UK53.469696799999987 -1.325968324.898385006533267 -36.4822183 82.0410085934667 33.8302817