Tue 4 Aug 2009 I have now transferred all the archive pages onto this site., but have not set up the links to other pages. The items are out of date anyway, and of little interest now.
I am making good use of my National Express bus pass, valid for one year to next April. Last week I used it on four trips to London. The 11.30 pm 465 service, with its drivers Derek, Gary and Richard, is a great boon to the theatre goer in London. I note also that many of the services are now almost full, so National Express must be making good profits at present. I hope it manages to sort itself out, and not get taken over because of the problems it is having on the East Coast Main Line.
I attended the memorial service to Stanley Middleton, the well known Nottingham authur, yesterday. He died last week aged 89, just a few days short of his 90th birthday. He taught me English Literature, the texts being Henry V, Mr Polly and Pygmalian. I was clearly not one of his star pupils in Sc5B, since I ended up with grade 7, when 5 (out of 9) was required for a pass. I never could recall and quote large chunks of text from the books, which seemed to be the way in the 50s to impress the examiners. Since his first book 'A Short Answer' published as part of the New Author series by Hutchinson, he has written 44 novels, most of which I have read. they are based in Nottingham, and concern the everyday lives of ordinary people, usually having something to do with education. There is still one more to be published, and another one not quite completed. I wonder if someone else who is familiar with his unique style, can complete it for publication.

Tue 26 May 2009. I completed the Wessex 100 in a time of 42 hrs. It started at 10 am Sat, and I finished at 4 am yesterday. This year the 100 mile LDWA walk started at Alton, Hampshire. The flint tracks are so hard that my feet suffered. It was thanks to the first aider that I was able to continue at 73 miles. I was ready to stop at 80 miles, but support from various people enabled me to continue. It was only 2.6 miles to the next check, and on that stretch my feet had recovered somewhat. But I must add my thanks to the following: Avril for her chat at 80 miles, Sam, who proably suffered more than myself, and his father, both of whom walked with me to the 83 miles ckeck, then Steve, who stayed with me for the remaining 17 miles. I must also mention the fish and chip shop at Portsmouth, so I hope you are reading this. The food went down very well on the three nights. Now for next years event, the 'Heart of Scotland 100' around the Pitlockry and Aberfeldy area. I just need that one plus one more to say I have completed 10 events.

Tue 5 May 2009. I receieved my Natopnal Express free pass last wee, and made the first use of it on Saturday. Although it is possible to turn up and get on the coach if there is room, I much prefer booking the actual service I require, so that I am sure of a seat.I have saved about £50 already with bookings for the nhext six weeks. It also means it is much more financially viable to join scot-trek on a couple of Munro Sundays in July and August. The day fee is £23, but travel would more than double that. I used to travel megabus from London to Glasgow, but for the cheap £1 fare I haqd to book many weeks in advance, which can be risky if the trek does not take place. In the case of National Express, there are coaches that arrive at Buchanan St, Glasgow at 5.30 am, and depart at 11 pm, which fits in exactly with the timings from kelvin Hall on the Munro days. I did not attempt any last year, so three new ones would make my total 60. Still 224 to go!
I was in school this mornin, having volunteered to do a couple of hours invigilation for a Yr 9 mock English reading examination. As the half fare single on the pronto bus is cheaper and more relaxing than driving, I left home at 7.05 to catch the 7.25. Around that time one arrived, followed immediately by another. The first turned out to be the 7.10 running 15 minutes late. The Pronto service is shared between Stagecoach and TrentBarton. However, what I did disciver is that the latter company has cheaper fares for the same journeys. Last week i paid £1.35 half fare to daybrook Square from newstzead Abbey Gates, on Stagecoach. Today TrentBarton charged £1.30 for the same journey. So on Thursday I must leave earlier and catch the 7.10 am. After 9.30 the fare difference is irrelevant, since I have my national bus pass. I wonder when TrentBarton fares will fall into line with Stagecoach. Maybe the latter is dearer to help to pay for the seven new pronto buses launched on the route from Nottinghanm to Chesterfield on 29 March. I took a round trip on the first one, Stagecoach 22777, but the suspension is about as hard as my honda civic R ! Or maybe it is the unrepaired roads around here.

Wed 29 April 2009 The Honda Civic R JG04 FUN had its two year service today, at Stratstone Honda, Mansfield, even though it has now done just 13000 miles. The cost was £303.
The reason the mileage is so low is that I am able to travel to many places on public transprt, even to my Northumberland caravan, which, using megabus from Sheffield to Newcastle costs as little as £2.50 return. However, today I received a free National Express pass, valid for one year, which should save a considerable amount.
I read yesterday that yahoo is closing down its geocities free website operation, no doubt hoping that users will take up the paid option provided. so I am in the process of moving my blog pages here, starting with the index page and the newest archive page. More to follow, so please do not be surprised if links do not work at present.