What did everyone do for the long weekend then?

I spent Friday working round the house and thinking about coursework before going over to a colleagues house for pizza, cider and a viewing of Battle Royale, which is the first film I've ever seen with no English what-so-ever and yet, it was surprisingly easy to follow (despite not understanding a single word being said!).

Saturday and Sunday was spent at Pembrey helping the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club with their season opener. Weather was surprisingly nice, sunny and at one point Race Control was 34C (too hot!). A good weekend had with the classic club and some good racing from the old machines.

Monday I did the coursework I had been thinking about on Friday. Alas, no rest for the academics! Now back to work for more but at least it's only a 4 day week

From http://news.motorsportvision.co.uk/8387.aspx

Quote:Snetterton's famous Scary Tree is to be given Honorary Freedom of the City of Norwich this year, in recognition of its status as a major landmark at the Norfolk circuit, helping to bring tourism into the region.

The Honorary Freedom of the City is a title awarded by the local council to a person or organisation in recognition of their contribution to Norwich. Recent recipients have included Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury, Norwich Union (Aviva) and Anglia TV.

Snetterton's Scary Tree has overseen competitive events at the Norfolk circuit since its inception over 60 years ago. Before then it survived World War II when the site was used as a USAF base. The centuries-old tree's distinctive sihouette has since inspired its adoptive name.

Special dispensation has been given to honour the tree, the first time that the award has been given to a non-human living organism.

A special ceremony will take place at the circuit later this year, with a commemorative plaque containing the key to the City of Norwich to be placed at the foot of the tree.

Snetterton's Avril le Poisson said: "This has come as a delightful surprise to us. The Scary Tree has developed into a cult feature of the circuit, and 'he's' become even more prominent with the additional photo opportunities afforded by the 300 circuit. We're now considering a special viewing area close to the tree and renaming Montreal corner in honour of our most famous resident."

The Scary Tree declined to comment.

Details of the ceremony are expected to be announced at midday today (Wednesday).

French drunk gives kiss of life to 'dying' dinghy

Yep. You read that right. Bloody French will try to mount anything!

Quote:A good (but very drunk) Samaritan spent the night in prison after police found the Frenchman trying to breathe life into an inflatable boat in Brittany, western France.

Ever had such a big Saturday night that you ended up confusing a lifeboat with a lifeless body?

Well that was the reality for one drunken 22-year-old, who was found by police in a shipyard just after 4am on Sunday in the western town of Vannes.

Officers noticed the man kneeling by an inflatable boat and went to investigate, reported French newspaper Le Télégramme.

"He was underneath a boat, on his knees, trying to resuscitate a rubber dinghy," local police told Le Télégramme.

The man told officers that someone was unconscious inside the vessel, but upon closer inspection officers discovered the young man was instead performing CPR on the inflatable boat itself.

To make matters worse, he had already called out firefighters to the scene - an emergency call that the police promptly cancelled.

Police took the Frenchman to prison to sleep off his hangover and recover his senses.

Av still got the flu, started with it Saturday, felt realy bad yesterday, and woke up the same today, throat like razorblades when I cough, head pounding and ache all over, hope it buggers off soon cos I feal like i'm dieing

Got renewal documents through today for my 'automatic renewal' (that I didn't ask for but probably didn't opt out of either) at £100 more than last year.

Done a quick comparison on the meerkat and found a price that's £250 cheaper than my renewal. Went to my insurance company to get a new quote and got a new customer quote £150 cheaper than my renewal quote.

Time to make some phone calls!

Starting from next weekend, I will be spending 6 weekends in 7 (Brands, Pembrey, Three Sisters, free, Snetterton, Three Sisters, Silverstone) at race meetings. So I thought I'd have a nice relaxing weekend this time, maybe play some playstation or Lord of the Rings Online or catch up with some personal coding projects...

But no. Because I'm not here for 6 weekends, I've been given a list of jobs for the house to sort out before I go off, and some fresh coursework dropped on us last week that's due in next Wednesday as well.

So in good student style, I'm going out for brunch so I don't have to look at the to-do list currently sitting on my whiteboard...

What's everyone else up to this weekend?

They must have a Judges 'Fake or Real' thread on the Chambers website!

Quote:Three judges have been fired for allegedly viewing pornography at work - a fourth would also have been sacked but resigned first.

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office confirmed that District Judge Timothy Bowles, Immigration Judge Warren Grant and Deputy District Judge and Recorder Peter Bullock have been removed from judicial office.

Their sacking follows an investigation into an allegation that they viewed pornographic material on judicial IT equipment in their offices.

The spokesman added that the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice were "satisfied that the material did not include images of children or any other illegal content".

Nevertheless, the body had "concluded that this was an inexcusable misuse of their judicial IT accounts and wholly unacceptable conduct for a judicial office holder".

A fourth judge, Recorder Andrew Maw, was also found to have viewed similar inappropriate material via his judicial IT account, the JCIO said, but resigned before the disciplinary process concluded.

The judges were not linked in any way.

Oh happy happy, joy joy.
It's back to the land of kibbutz and kosher food. Only this time I'm about 5 mile from Syria.
My company is a tad fretting; but i mentioned that IS may be psychotic murdering scumbag nutters. But they only specialise in murdering women, unarmed prisoners in cages and children.
They might be f@cking crackers; but they arnt that dumb to mess with the IDF. They would help our IS mates meet thier imaginary maker real quick.
I just wish the food was better; still grey goose in tel aviv airport for £24

It's a tough job, but sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted!

I found this site last week: http://www.ilovemanchester.com/2014/06/2...ester.aspx

It gives info on 17 bars in Manchester which are hard to find. I know of a couple from years ago, but many are new - Especially in the redeveloped Northern Quarter.

The kids were both away this weekend (Yessssssss!) so Yaz and I decided we would have a wander down to Manchester mid afternoon. Yaz needed a new battery in her watch and couldn't be bothered sending it off and waiting six weeks so we went to get that sorted and have a mooch around some bars.

Decided to head for the Northern Quarter and then back towards Deansgate for a curry at Akbars.

Dropped Yasmins watch off after haggling the price down from £50 to £40 for a battery, seals and pressure test. We had a couple of hours free.
We set off down Tibbs Street and initially had a few hiccups. Dusk 'till Pawn was closed (shame as it looks great), The Fitzgerald was hired out for a wedding for the day and Kraak Gallery was also closed. We assume both the bars closed opened in the evening.
Yaz was getting fiesty as she wanted to sit down with a coffee, but I was determined to find at least one bar. Did manage to and it was a belter. Got to Montpelliers. Will be going back there too. No way would I have found it, as its on a back street that you just wouldn't walk past. Part of what I like about quirky places like these is they have quirky beers. I had a pint of Moretti which is a nice lager, then a pint of Affligem Blonde. At £5.80 a go fortunately it was a cracking beer. One to enjoy and taste, rather than rush. I'll be getting hold of some for home I was that impressed. Made the Moretti taste very dull and watery by comparison.

From there we went on to Cane and Grain. Yaz loved this bar. Really visually quirky. Pint of Samuel Adams Boston Lager here. Only ever had this in Belfast when out on a trip around the real Irish pubs with my cousin, so it brought back some nice memories.



It also has a secret bar in the first floor. Sadly, we didn't get chance to see it as we realised we had to rush back to collect Yasmins watch. This is the cheeky place though.

Just a wall ....



Or is it?



Passed a pretty cool bit of street art on the walk back for the watch ...



We then wandered over towards Akbars. We were calling in Brewdog on the way (I do love that place). We also walked past an old favourite - Discoteque Royales. Spent many nights in there years ago. It was a huge, briliant place in it's heyday. Now, despite being an amazing building its sitting going to ruin. Hope it gets saved properly ...



Final port of call to tick a third hidden bar off was Cask on Liverpool Road. This is one I knew. Had a pint, but its a sweaty hippy type place rather than quirky. Won't be bothering with it again. Some nice choices on the beer, but not nice enough to put up with it smelling like a sweaty toilet!



Had a fantastic curry at Akbars. Wandered into Jamie Olivers place on King Street on the way back. Not on the list, but an impressive place to visit as the buildings on King Street are amazing inside.

Yaz has said that next time we go down we will do four bars. I've earmarked The Temple, Epernay, Brewdog, The Gas Lamp and Corbierres.
I think we are going to enjoy this challenge!

To cheer everyone up following yesterday being Monday. As if an excuse to post this is really needed.