testing, testing

Gov´t Mule - A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Procol Harum Cover)

 I' ve been using them, unscrewing them, and screwing them all day as I labour through the exciting (stifles a yawn as wide as the widest mouth frog) world of Do-it-youself, or in my case, Damage-it-yourself!

What are scews, where do they come from, and why when I want them to go straight do they try to  twist and turn like a twisty-turny thing.

Dating from the  1st century, screws were made from wood and were used in wine presses, and in oil presses, and for pressing clothes, too. Metal screws and nuts, more akin to what we recognise today,  first appeared in the 15th century.





So they have been around a long time, and even if I had beeen around with them from the 15th century, I still would not of got the hang of them:)

John Dalton was born near Cockermouth, in the Lake District of England in 1766. In 1808 he published the work which was to define his life and achievements. The book was entitled ''A New System of Chemical Philosophy'', and it revolutionised the world of science in regards to those tenacious little critters, namely atoms. The study of atoms even became known as Daltonism, such was his fame.
But a devout Quaker, he rejected the lavishments bestowed on him by society, a truly great man whose work formed the basis of all modern chemistry, and a large proportion of modern science,

I was used to the heat, but this place was so hot the trees were bribing the dogs. Irvine Welsh-If you Liked School, You'll love work.

''When I feel the heat, I see  the light.'' Everett Dirksen

If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back? Steve Wright

Now I know that rabbits are not crazy when it comes to carrots. Why, well I ate carrots from  a village, grown without, nor nourished with chemicals, but totally organic and quite astoundingly tasty. Those rabbits are wise and smart, I'm telling you:)

On this day in 1944 Count von Stauffenburg tried to kill Adolf Hitler, not too far from here, which was then Eastern Prussia, at the Wolf's Lair. This really is a region rich in history.

According to British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, we can look at modern life in the following manner, ''civilization advances by extending the number of operations we can perform without thinking about them.'' So we are, in other words, slipping into a world of non-thought and automatic responses.

Modern bridge

Gizycko tree lined pavement

Aged timber and brick

Gizycko brick and timber frames

Rail signals

The new school year is inexorably swinging itself into view around the headland of summmer and general chilling out.

For the start of the new school year an adaption of speed dating is always a sure fire way to get people up, talking and involved, and it also works great with language exchange groups.

Everybody is paired of with a partner and they have to  find out as much information about their new colleague within  a few short minutes. Then I call time and everybody swaps and sits with a anew partner, this goes on until every member of the class has spoken to eeveryone else. Then they report the most interesting facts and anecdotes from their question and answer session.

Fun with the accent on free speaking and low stress levels to help put the group in the right frame of mind for the new year:)

...and then there are the towels. There are towels for football clubs, cartoons, the latest hit on Nickelodeon or simply very bad taste. There are the scanners, whether male or female, the sit aor stand and search all the time like the Terminator, swinging baack and forth in the hope of an admiring glance in their direction. The individual hardcore tanner, oiled and minimally dressed, or undressed to the legal limit, in search of their hit from the sun.
The young males who have been to the gym and find it physically impossible to walk with thier arms next to their bodies, and women ho constantly preen themselves like the vainest of peacocks strutting their stuff to the full.
Then we have the familiy groups, squawking, running, arguing and eating, always eating and chattering like a flock of birds on LSD.

The sun sends the mercury rising, so in troglodyte manner we traipse to the beach for the all the fun and excitement such hedonistic pleasure can enrich our lives with. Sorry pale bodies strut in the sun, believing in the invincibilty of sun creams that only tease our latent melanomas with the thinnest of protection. The wonder of slapping on oul and creaam from a bottlle, the lid of which has been dropped on the sand and carries a dusting of sand which is transferred to fingers, and ground in to skin thhat last saw the sun one year  before.
Cheap and tatty saeside rides vie for business of the young and innocent, or the cravenly naieve, whilst the music of the tone-deaf masses can listen to overproduced and overloud tripe.Oh the joy!

Rammstein - Mutter (Official Video)

It has no taste, but we love to taste it, to drink it. It has no colour and no form as such, but for many to be submerged in it, or to holiday besides it and take part in sorts on, and in it, is simply a must. Our planet is covered up to two-thirds by it and even humans, even as I write this, me you and everybody is cconstiuted of 72% water.
Physics tells us that water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen which gives water its unique qualities and so water moecules never bind, but restlessly seek something to bond with billions of times a second. The result is that water can form small bodiesof water, for instance puddles and lakes. But has the quality of being separable when we want to partake of a water sport. But when we hit it at speed, or it hits us at speed, like a Tidal Wave, then it is very, very hard.
Water is a not only  a vital constituent of our bodies, but needed on a regular basis to maintain our health. And that is why as global warming increases it will become a resource over which nations, states and ethnic groups will go to war to ensure its supply.
My father fought for the British 8th Army in North Africa in World War 2, and as he stated, for hime water, or aqua, was the most beautiful drink in the world.
And now I reach out for a glass of water, but not replenished from a tap, as we now do not trust entirely what it gives us, but instead from a bottle of spring water. Which incidentally has a sell by date on it, for a substance that has been perculating through rocks and fissures for millions of time beyond measure. Strange.

Remember to be very careful at the beach. Only today, as I sat reading an enthralling novel by Jack Whyte, I was suddenly assaulted by a glacialy ice cold crocodile, which swept by my eyes, spraying me with invigoratingly cold water, the reassuring smell of strong plastic, and a 'Made in China' logo in front of my besieged eyes.

Kazimierz dolny: what a beautiful and invigorating place. Wonderful food, apart from the trout, and the architecture and the small but tasteful outlets selling artwork of all kinds. Stay in the former synagogue and really savour a piece of the towns rich and varied history. Strange to think that the town square which now is home to so many bars and restuarants catering to the endlesss thirst and hunger of rapacious tourists for sustenance, but which witnessed the assembled might of the German armed forces. These forces successfully sent the Jewish community, men, women and children to Death Camps, cleansing the town of Jewish influence by 1942.
A wonderful and engaging place spiritually, artistically and with wonderful landscapes and views.

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny

Kazimierz dolny Wąwóz

Kazimierz dolny

kazimierz dolny

Wisla

Good book but maybe the cover needs a revamp?

When cars were cars

When cars were cars

When cars were cars

What is the actual benefit of the World Cup, the new stadiums and the millions spnent ton hosting the event, when the dust settles and the locals are left to get on with their lives. Like with South Africa and the Olympics in Greece, in all honesty probably not very much.
People in Brazil will stay have poor amenities, expensive medicine, and for many the squalor of the lowest quality housing in sordid districts. And maybe the true legacy will be the cost that the Brazilian taxpayers must pay for this showcase sporting extravaganza, for many years to come.

Well down Costa Rica and good luck in the next game!

I am at a loss, the sadness is so deep and overwhelming it threatens to drag me down to the deepest depths as if tied to an anchor and cast into the ocean. And the reason? Our local shop, called Biedronka (Ladybird) has given up the quest of accepting cash only, and ventured into the modern world by accepting, wait for it...  cards.
No longer will I have the joy of watching people search endlessly for the smallest of small change, the minutest of coinage, and the wonderfully dejected look of the cashier when you reply that you have no such small change with which to challenge the range of their mathematical skills.

To the differing ladies I met from Australia who were charming, but wonderfully lost and befuddled, I wish you well and feel that investing in a map would open a world of possibilties for all of you. It was great to have some entertaining banter with our antipodean cousins:)

I read an article yesterday that stated that the decline of France within the EU, and in its relationship with Germany, has now led to a condition where Germany is the overwhelming power with the EU. A condition and state that was never part of the vision that brought Europe together.
Such a pity that the left-wingers have been building a social welfare superstate, whilst as usual ignoring the simple fact that an unfettered trading sytem that encourages entreprenuralism is central to creating wealth and work.

Europe must encourage economic growth, whilst protecting the rights of citizens, Sadly the system I expound is nearer to a British idea of an open and healthy trading market within Europe, which at the same time keeps it competitive with the rapidly emerging super economies of China and India.

It is time for the EU to get back to basics, fundamentally a good idea, but like so many institutions and regimes of various hues before, it is slowly running off the rails, and turning into a bureaucratic nightmare and nearer fragmentation.

The gardens at Sintra, such a beautiful and fascinating place with small towers and dark grottos, endearing, and such beautiful flora and fauna.

There are no simple likes or dislikes when assessing somethings, people or places. Take for instance Lisbon, by turns charming, graceful and yet sadly lacking in sincerity. The clubs and bars with Fado would should sweaty cheese and stale rolls under your nose, and should you tentatively pick at them, you will find the price of two beers now includes a small meal, too.But saying that, the music was atmospheric and evoked the town beautifully.
Step out from the fading glory that is your hotel, and go in search of the amenities of a European city, such as as shops selling a range of fruit, vegetables and sundry items, and you will be hard put to find such an establishment. It is almost as if you are squeezed into the choice of heading into one of the cafes or restaurants, which are fronted by the staff continually entreating you to partake of there fare, even if they just saw you finish your meal in the adjoing restaurant, pay and leave!
The streets are paved with small white stones which glisten and give the place a very distinct feel and the views from the rooftop terrace of hotels are wonderful.

Slipping gracefully into a derelict state

Lion door

Drinking water

Boar floor

Ornate door

Well, well, well

Call me old fashioned, call me slightly paranoid, but the possibility of using the showers at Frankfurt airport was simply not inviting.

Cable view

Spine of building

Concrete in volume

Slight gradient

Before ascending

Sky and panels

Exoskeleton