Petrol -£5 per gallon

Today, petrol (gasoline) will probably hit an all-time high of £1.09 per litre in the United Kingdom. That will take the price to £5 per gallon or $9.95 in US dollars.

Matt Stevens - a proud resident of Penn Lea Road

Bath 36 -Sale Sharks 14

Bath won the semi-final round of the European Challenge Cup today at the Recreation Ground in the centre of Bath. They will now play Worcester on May 25th for the European Championship. Matt Stevens, who lives across the street from us, was 'man of the match'. The European Challenge Cup is kind of like the Super Bowl in American Football. Go Bath!

Mock Cherry Tree blossoms

Tulips in our front garden

Fairfield House -If I would have written the headline for the Bath Chronicle when he returned in later years I would have entitled it, 'Selassie, come home' Haile -the Lion of Judah

Famous neighbour

One of my recent tasks has been to start reading a history Bath. I have got much information in a piecemeal fashion but decided to read a book that would present the details in a more ordered way. I had heard that Haile Selassie had spent his exile from Ethiopia in Bath but never figured out just where he might have lived.

After a bit of reading, I realised his house is a two minute walk from the manse. So on this lovely day I decided I'd walk over and take a couple of photos. I also have included a few of the blossoms that are in full bloom as spring has finally arrived!

Fairfield House was given to the city of Bath by Selassie after he left to return to his homeland. He gave it with the condition that it become an 'old persons' home. It is now a day-centre for the elderly and is a pilgrimage site for Rastafarians from around the world.

In case you are unaware of the beliefs of Rastafarians I have included a brief comparative religion view based on a popular phrase.

Taoism: Shit happens.
Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens."
Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit.
Zen Buddhism: What is the sound of shit happening?
Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.
Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it.
Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen.
Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it.
Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it.
Lutheran: If shit happens, don't talk about it.
Fundamentalism: If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!)
Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?
Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work.
Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday.
Creationism: God made all shit.
Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.
Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit.
Capitalism: That's MY shit.
Communism: It's everybody's shit.
Feminism: Men are shit.
Chauvinism: We may be shit, but you can't live without us...
Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS.
Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p.157.
Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock<>
Hare Krishna: Shit happens, rama rama.
Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS.
Nihilism: No shit.

Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit!

From the Sunday 'London' Times

Will the Pennsylvania primary bring this 'bloodbath' to an end?

God

If God were not a spiritual presence this is what s/he would look like!

At the Abbey Road studios

Andy Capp lives! This photo was taken in Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre. I played on the Machrihanish links course just a mile or so out of town.

A marvelous Cartier-Bresson style photo from their farm in Scotland

I wonder what kind of tobacco Paul is using?

Linda McCartney Photographs

When the William's clan comes to these shores at the end of May we might just stop by the Hyman Gallery in London to see the photos of Linda McCartney. In this week's Sunday Times, Sir Paul wrote an article and included 11 photos from the upcoming exhibition. In his article that accompanied the photographs he spoke adoringly of his late wife. Wonder if the timing wasn't a bit of a dig at the recent ex-wife Heather Mills McCartney?

A case of art imitating art. . .

Don't try this at home

Oh, %"*$

Timmy Murphy congratulated for his victory on Comply or Die

The Grand National

Every April the world's most bet upon and watched (600 million viewers) horse race takes place at Aintree in Liverpool. The Grand National is a 40 horse demolition derby with over half of the horses falling or unseating their riders. This year, only 14 riders finished the demanding 30 jump race. Sadly, one horse had to be humanely put down. I watched and regretted not placing a bet (flutter) on my pick which won at 7 -1 odds. Comply or Die comes from a farm here in Somerset.

It happens to the best of them. . .

Charlotte Green is an iconic voice on the BBC's Radio Four. Listen to what happens in the middle of this obituary. You can't always be on top of your game.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/audio/2008/mar/28/charlotte.green

This pooch chose to become a practising Buddhist because it is non- DOGmatic.

Granddaughter Rory at 3 months!

The Surge

I normally don't get too political on this blog because its primary purpose is to let friends and family know what is going on in our lives. But, I did think this video clip from my broadsheet of choice, The Guardian, is worth viewing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/rongarner/clippings Take seven minutes out of your life and ponder what this means for our future. When you get to my clippings page just click on 80,000 Angry Men. When the appropriate page comes up you might need to scroll down a bit.

Before After

I'd be angry too!

Heather Mills McCartney threw a glass of water over the head of Sir Paul's attorney yesterday during the discussion of the final settlement in their much publicised divorce. She had every right to be angry with the settlement. She only received a paltry £24.3 million ($50 million USD) from the former Beatle's estate. To add insult to injury, one day later the judge refused to keep details of the settlement private. I hope Paul's lawyer can afford a trip to the beautician.

Great Satire!

Painting of the Bathtub Bistro -right across from Central URC

Happy Birthday, Maurene!

Today is Maurene's birthday. She went out for breakfast tea with a friend, we had lunch together at the Bathtub Bistro a quintessential Bath eating establishment. She has had telephone calls from Thailand, Minnesota and California and it is only the middle of the afternoon.

I've lost 4 umbrellas to high winds since moving to England.
Waves in nearby Cornwall

Not the best spectator spot.

Gales again!

Well, last night the British Isles were hit with some significant gales. Coastal areas have had major flooding because the 80 mph winds hit at the same time as high tide. Fortunately, we survived without any major damage, just some turned over garden pots and some rearranged lawn furniture. We are glad we live in a stone house at the foot of a large hill. More wind is predicted for tonight and early tomorrow morning but only winds of about 40 mph. My last gale blog was 17 January 2007.

My new favourite commercial

Write a caption for this photograph

1) The "before" picture in a Hair Club for Men ad.

2) Which of these four gentlemen is not a former NFL player?

3) Don't golf clubs in Florida have a dress code?

4) The first foursome to tee off at the Tripp Isenhour RSPCA Charity Golf Tournament.

A few photographs of Pyle and Kenfig

Back to the links. . .

Since moving to Bath two years ago, I have been a member of The Park Golf Club just a few miles outside of town. I have enjoyed the course and the proximity to home. But, I have certainly missed playing 'links golf.' Well, it is the time of year when I must renew my membership. I have decided to become a 'country member' of the Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club on the Bristol Channel in Wales.

Country membership is offered to anyone that lives 60 miles or more from the club. The membership is inexpensive and offers full playing privileges except for entering club competitions (which I wouldn't do anyway). I had a similar membership at Prince's Golf Club in Sandwich when I lived in London and it was just over 100 miles.

The other benefit is that when I go to play I'll make a day of it. I have found that the closeness of the course has seriously deterred me from taking a full day off. I am excited as P and K is considered one of the best links courses in the British Isles and is a neighbour to the more famous Royal Porthcawl.

The downside is that I will have to pay a toll to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales. Welsh folks always laugh that it costs an Englishman £5 to enter Wales but they can leave for free! I did pay a toll when I ventured to Prince's at the Dartford Crossing but it was only £1 each way. But, I'll save a couple of gallons of petrol so it works out fine.

Ok. . .Harry's there, where are the Bush twins?

The Head of State of the United Kingdom's grandson is now on the frontline of the'war on terror.' When is Dubya going to allow his daughter's to enter the fray?