I'm the man!

Check out the scorecard! This was my inward nine from this morning! I was two under with two holes to play, but an unplayable lie on 17 (2 stroke penalty) and a 3 putt from about 80 feet on 18 took me back to a 36. But that is the best golf I have played in a long, long time! Don't ask about the outward nine, I was just warming up. My writing is kind of faint so I have added the scores: 10 -3, 11-3 (birdie), 12 -3, 13-4 (birdie), 14-4, 15-4, 16-3, 17-7 (triple bogie), 18-5 bogie.

Total Score 36, total putts -14. I was using one of the Titelist DDB balls that Jessica sent me. I haven't used Titelist in several years. I'm switching.

Who are these people?

I have learned that some questions are better left unasked. Every time the Mayor of Bath arrives at a ceremony (civic or religious) this entourage shows up with her. Carrying maces and swords and wearing strange outfits they take their duties quite seriously -and Bathonians seem to take it all in stride. I was pleased that the Bath Chronicle included this photograph of her lackeys or perhaps in more up-to-date parlance her posse. This was the mayor entering the Abbey for the 40th Anniversary Service mentioned earlier.

Keith Olbermann - Fox, Lies and Videotape

This story has even made big headlines in Britain. What troubles me is that the issue isn't being discussed outside of overt partianship. Couric's 23 minute interview with Michael J. Fox at least had enough substance to it to point out that stem cells can also be obtained from IVF cells that are now being discarded. It also dismissed the notion that Fox is a shill or pawn of the Democrats (ie Fox's support of Arlen Specter). As for Rush Limbaugh, he is the one to be pitied. But, Keith Olbermann using Sam Seder's vitriol in response just obscures the issues even further. When will Americans demand a sincere discussion of issues instead of the partisan attacks that only rely on hatred and fear?

University of Bath -40th Anniversary

One of Maurene and my duties is as part-time chaplains at the University of Bath. I drew the short straw and had to join in the procession that entered the Bath Abbey yesterday to celebrate the awarding of royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II in 1966. This is the academic portion of the procession. Amazingly, the abbey was full for the ceremony.

RING OF FIRE

This evening we had a fireworks display that celebrated the opening of the Thermae Bath Spa. It lasted only 3 minutes but was set off from 6 of the 7 hilltops that surround Bath (hence the 'Ring of Fire'). The picture was taken in Victoria Park looking at the fireworks above the Royal Crescent. Maurene and I oohed and aahed, something Brits don't understand. But they did clap and cheer at the end.

I want to be a stonemason

A few weeks ago I had photographs of the wall in front of the manse which was destroyed by a hit-and-run driver. The church got estimates and submitted the lowest bid to our insurer. After the cheque arrived, the stonemason came out and using the old stones and his mortar rebuilt the wall in about 8 hours. Total cost -£1347 (in American dollars that is $2537.16) Or an hourly wage of $317.14. Either mortar is very expensive, or I missed my calling in life. Anyway, we do have to admit he did a very good job. The wall blends in quite naturally with all of the other stone walls that line the streets and gardens of our neighbourhood. And believe me, if it didn't, the preservation society would already be demanding that it be taken down and redone!

Cat from Hell

Wow! I love this cat!

Nostalgic photo #3

Caption: Ron has his first experience with an older woman.

Nostalgic photo #2

Again, this will only be understood by members of the family:

Caption: Keith Garner, always a frugal man, sets out to prove that you can fill a cavity with a putty knife and some spackle.

My contribution to the nostalgic photo competition

My daughter and brother have placed a few 'old' photographs on their blog sites. I decided to add one of my own. This photograph was found when I was rifling through an envelope shortly after our move. My suggested caption will only be understood by members of my family.

Caption: Ron was fine in the playpen until he realised how much Billy looked like Uncle Peal.

Autumn Mix - Oh no, Mr. Bill!

Any time Maurene or I return to the states for a visit, we usually try to bring back those items that we can't get in the UK. Sadly, I haven't been able to figure out how to transport White Castles, Skyline Chilli, or Cassanos Pizza. But, we usually bring back Red Twizzlers or Butterfingers for Maurene. My list is more extensive and actually quite seasonal -Black Jelly Beans and Marshmallow Peeps at Easter, those soft peppermint thingys with the trees in the middle at Christmas, for Halloween and Thanksgiving I prefer Autumn Mix.

So it was with great joy that Maurene arrived in Bristol from her trip to see Jessica with two giant sized Butterfingers (for me!!) a bag of orange slices (which were Dad's favourite) and two bags of Autumn Mix -that terribly sugary confectionery treat that I simply can't resist. So, less than 48 hours later the bag of orange slices has disappeared, one butterfinger has been reduced to a few small slivers of chocolate with some yellow/orange middle attached and one bag of Autumn Mix has bitten the dust.

Who needs caffeine when you can get high on sugar? Anyway, just a little over a month till I travel home. Can't wait to sink my teeth into some of those peppermint tree thingys.

IT'S OFFICIAL - BATH IS ENGLAND'S BEST

from the Bath Chronicle
10 October 2006
Bath has been voted the best city in England by readers of a national newspaper.The accolade in the annual Guardian and Observer Travel Awards is the most prestigious in a string of recent tourism poll boosts for the city.

More than 15,000 readers voted in the survey and in the favourite UK city category, Bath came third behind Edinburgh and Glasgow, making it the most popular city in England, ahead of London, Cambridge and York.It has jumped up the leader board from seventh place last year and eighth place in 2004.

Debbie Ponting, spokeswoman for Bath Tourism Plus, the city's marketing organisation, said: "Everyone here at Bath Tourism Plus is thrilled to hear that the city has gained this recognition."It shows the city is already well recognised by the British public as the great tourist destination it is, and the extra promotion will encourage those who don't already know about it to come and discover the city's charms for themselves."The award is a credit to all of those who make the city such an enjoyable place to visit, from the hotels, retailers and visitor attractions to the friendly residents of Bath."

City mayor Cllr Carol Paradise added: "I am not really surprised but it is very, very gratifying and nice to know that somebody else sees the city as we do."People always say what a beautiful city it is, personally I think it is a shame about the litter and people dropping chewing gum but that is a problem across the country."When people walk around they say it is like they are in a dream, it is such a beautiful city and so relaxing. It really is a privilege to live in Bath."

The city's most famous attraction, the Roman Baths and adjacent Pump Room, has also just been shortlisted for an award.The council-run complex has made it to the finals of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in the large visitor attraction of the year category.Katie Smith, visitor services manager, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the Roman Baths and Pump Room and we are thrilled. There is stiff competition this year, particularly from SS Great Britain which has recently undergone major refurbishment and has received many awards, so it is great we have made it this far."Visitors from the UK and abroad are drawn to our attraction and we have an excellent reputation across the world."We are committed to improving our already high standards and to making sure that all our visitors have an enjoy- able, entertaining and interesting day out."

Developments that impressed the judges at the Roman Baths, which attract a million visitors a year, included the new children's and Bill Bryson tours and computer "fly-throughs" of the site in Roman days. The Pump Room will celebrate its 300th anniversary next month.The winners of the regional awards will be announced on Monday.

Pulteney Bridge, 7 October 2006
Pulteney Bridge and The Weir

Pulteney Bridge was finished in 1773. Like its inspiration, the Ponte Vechio in Florence Italy, it is lined with tiny shops that cater to a wide variety of tastes -everything from antique maps and teddy bears, a florist, and a rather exclusive women's dress shop. The dress shop is frequented by Dame Judy Dench, whose cardboard cut out stands majestically, if a bit sun-faded, in the front window.

The shops have had their share of catastrophes. In 1804 some of the shops fell into the river. Just last month some rather large flower boxes that were perched above the doors of the shops were blown over by a rather intense wind squall and injured some tourists who were passing by.

Flooding has also been a problem in the centre of Bath. Fully 200 years after the Pulteney Bridge was completed the horseshoe shaped weir replaced a straight weir just below the bridge. With some other improvements to the west of Bath the flooding issues have been resolved (for the time). The higher tides and more intense rains promised by global warming may tax such projects in the future. But for now, Pulteney Bridge and the weir provide a popular, though 'slightly off the beaten track' tourist photo opportunity.

THE RIVER AVON PART II

I've been asked to provide a larger photo of the River Avon from my 20 mile walk. I hope this does the trick, I don't know how to make it any larger.

About the River Avon. This is not the same river that runs through Stratford (Shakespeare's hometown). Avon is a Celtic word that means 'river', so there are quite a few in the British Isles. Also, Avon is not pronounced like the 'Avon calling' phrase that we are so used to hearing. This Avon rhymes with haven, or maven, or craven, or ain't misbehavin'. Just like our mispronunciation of Bath when we first got here, we have had to learn to soften the final syllable of this geographic label. I won't even try to explain words like Leicester, Berkshire, or even seemingly innocuous words like clerk (pron. clark) or schedule (pron. shed-yule).

Back to the river. It runs through Bath and since it is a tidal river and subject to flooding it is controlled by a series of weirs. One such weir is just below the famous Pulteney Bridge. I'll include photos and more explanations in the future. Weirs are like steps which create a pleasant waterfall. The Pulteney Weir is the subject of many a tourist photograph.

The Avon flows from east to west and ends about 10 miles from here where it flows into the Bristol Channel which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. I ride my bicycle in to work each day along the Avon and enjoy the tourist boat traffic that often uses the waterway in the summer.

Autumnal light

Since moving to England, Maurene and I have noticed the quality of light as evening approaches in the autumn. It is difficult to describe, but it has a particular quality that is serene and has a calming quality when one slows down enough to actually notice it.

In Bath, with all of the honey-brown stone and steep hills, the evening light takes on an even more luminous quality. I was walking in the city centre this evening and looking up toward the row houses that fill the hillsides in all directions. I again felt that rather unifying feeling that comes when we observe the light phenomenon. Wish I could capture it in a photograph. But that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?

Maurene and Ron

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Can you believe it? Maurene and I went to the Bath Abbey on Saturday evening for an 'International Charity Opera Gala'. The charity was Dorothy House -our local hospice. Yes, Ron went to the opera.

Joseph Calleja was the headliner. The programme describes him as, 'A young and exciting Maltese tenor [who] has established himself as one of the most promising artists of his generation.' He was joined by Ha Young Lee who represented Korea in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. She received the Audience Prize. The City of London Sinfonia provided the accompaniment.