Wishing A Happy New Year to Bloggers Everywhere

May 2013 bring you peace, good health & much Happiness

A Happy & Safe Christmas to Police Officers Everywhere



Seasonal Greetings to all my former colleagues & friends and bloggers everywhere

Drawing courtesy of www.policeoracle.com



The Day Pure Evil Visited Newtown, Connecticut

The love, thoughts and prayers of many families in Great Britian are with all those families in the United States of America who have suffered the most catastrophic act of pure evil inflicted upon the country in recent history.

To those citizens of Newtown, Connecticut, and especially to the families of those directly involved at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we unreservedly offer you our deepest sympathy. We trust our Heavenly Father will give each and every one of you the courage and strength to bear your incomprehensible grief with stoicism.  Also, with determination to ensure that no such similar act of barbarism should ever be inflicted upon another family in USA, or any other country in the world.

We, in the United Kingdom, suffered an almost identical act of mass murder of primary school children and their teachers in the Dunblane, Scotland, massacre of March 13th. 1996, so we can fully empathize with your grief and sorrow.

May God bless you and comfort you today and always.

WOMEN JUST DON'T LISTEN!

Harry's flat was untidy & dirty, so he called in a domestic cleaner. Since he had to go to work the next day, he told the cleaner;

'I'll leave the key under the mat. Give my flat a good tidy up & a clean, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a cheque.

Oh, by the way don't worry about my dog Spike. He won't bother you."

But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!

I MUST STRESS TO YOU: DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!"

When the cleaner arrived at Harry's apartment, she discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog she has ever seen. But, just as he had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the cleaner go about her work.The parrot, however, drove her nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name calling.

Finally the cleaner couldn't contain herself any longer and yelled, 'Shut up, you stupid, frickin ugly bird!'

To which the parrot replied, 'Get her Spike!'

See - WOMEN just don't listen!

(Apologies to my feminist friends who may deem this little piece of humour sexist. It is simply a joke. It's Christmas, be happy & enjoy it.)

The Cardiologist & The Motor Mechanic

A motorcycle mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a BMW M3 when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop.

The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage,

"Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?"

The cardiologist, a bit surprised walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle.

The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine.

I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced anything damaged, and then put everything back in,

and when I finished, it worked just like new.

So how is it that I make £24,000 a year and you make £1.7million when you and I are basically doing the same work?"

The cardiologist paused, leaned over and then whispered to the mechanic;

"Try doing it with the engine running”.

On Vacation in America's Golden West



Start of a Great Holiday

Apologies to my regular readers for my absence from blogging for a few weeks. I have just returned from a fabulous tour of Nevada and California.

Upon arrival in Las Vegas the weather was not particularly kind to us. We experienced flash-flooding the likes of which had not been seen in Vegas for 45 years !  Dodging the heavy showers we managed to see all the sights and particularly enjoyed Caesars Palace and the Fremont Street lazer show. Also enjoyable was the visit to Hotel Rio where we had a super buffet followed by a tribute act show entitled "The Rat Pack is Back".  The next day we caught a flight from Boulder City to the Grand Canyon National Park.  Whilst our first stop at a viewing area was fine, the weather once again closed in and we encountered the first snow of winter at our next viewing area !  A great experience just the same with lots of lovely memories of our time at the Grand Canyon.

On Day 4 we departed Las Vegas and drove through the Mojave Desert to the playground of the stars, Palm Springs, California, where the weather was, thankfully, very warm and sunny. Whilst in this Desert Oasis we toured the homes of the stars and enjoyed a wildlife adventure in the Living Desert. We also opted to take an aerial cable car tram ride to the summit of San Jacinto Mountain to view a refreshingly different alpine view of the Coachella Valley.

On Day 6 we departed from Palm Springs for the drive to the sprawling mega-city of Los Angeles staying in the rather quiet suburb of Sherman Oaks, which is conveniently away from the congested downtown area. 

En route to L.A. we visited the Pacific Beach Resort of Long Beach and enjoyed a visit  aboard the original Queen Mary cruise liner which is now permanently moored in the port in her semi retirement. The ship is now a floating hotel with restaurants, shops, bars, conference facilities, etc. At the time of our visit  the Queen Mary was hosting an exhibition of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, memorabilia including many of her fabulous and famous dresses.

In L.A. we visited the Hollywood Bowl, trod the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and saw the Dolby Theatre where the annual Oscars ceremony takes place. We travelled through Sunset Boulevard and Beverly Hills before pausing for lunch at The Farmers Market.  In the afternoon we spent several hours at Universal Studios looking at some of the movie sets and stunts that have made this city legendary.

On Day 8 we left L.A. for the drive along the Pacific coastline on famous Highway 1, through Malibu to the affluent Mediterranean-style community of Santa Barbara, famous for its chic shady streets lined with bistros and shops. We then continued on to San Luis Obispo for an overnight stay. The following day we moved north to the small artistic and fishing communities of Carmel and Monterey where we experienced a drive along the famous '17 Mile Drive' with its scenic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, rocky pine-clad cliffs and oceanic wildlife. 

Next stop was California's city of hills, San Francisco. We enjoyed a first night banquet at Fishermans Wharf and travelled across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island to take a look back at the vibrant multi-cultural city with all the lights on. Spectacular ! The following day we enjoyed a guided tour of the city including going over the Golden Gate Bridge. In the afternoon we took a cruise around San Francisco Bay and viewed Alcatraz Penitentiary on Rock Island which formerly housed some of America's most notorious gangsters including Al "Scarface" Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Robert "Birdman" Stroud.

The highlight of my visit to San Fran was taking the cable car up and down the hills of this amazing city through China Town to Ocean Square. I travelled on the footplate throughout holding onto the safety rail with one hand and video camera in the other. I was in my tourist element ! I had vivid pictures in my mind of Steve McQueen driving his sports car at breakneck speed  over the San Fran hills in the film Bullet.

                                                

After some further relaxation in San Fran including a visit to The Crookedest Street in the World, it was time to fly back to London with a treasure trove of happy memories which will stay with us for ever.

Thank you very much America for your customary warm and friendly welcome.  We'll sure be back again some day soon!

 



                         

                  The Crookedest Street in the World




Special thanks to Nalani O'Brien our dedicated and very professional tour guide who ensured the success of this wonderful Travelsphere holiday.

The Joy of Parenthood !



Kids, don't you just love 'em !!!!!!!!