THE BRITISH THREAD II

That sounds like an excellent journey, Steve. I take it bicycle #2 is living up to its promise? Was that 52 miles on roads mainly or is there a cycle track down the Lea Valley?

Its towpath/cycle way nearly all the way. Actually national cycle route #1

Goes through wide variety of scenery, Hackney marshes various wild life reserves, back side of flats, docks (where they used to transport gunpowder on special barges down to Woolich arsenal), plus locks etc on the Lea. A mixture of

The Brompton is great for taking on the train, but Dipl.Ing H. Kettler's machine covers the miles.

Only problem was I didnt prepare for the trip...never really intended going that far, and I got horribly sun burnt. Which is a) really stupid b) worrying c) ugly d) painful e) really really annoying because I always either wear a hat or take sunscreen...and it rains...or get deceived by the strength of the sun as I did yesterday.

You pay for your education, in some way. Mad dogs and all that.

I bought two beeches this morning, no not in Moss Side, in Cheadle Hulme.
Will plant them this arvo.

Now it's lunchtime and the big quandary....coffee...or tea?

And to close, here's a general knowledge question for all you bright sparks. (Guardian readers should sit this one out)

What is the connection between a popular table football game and a flying raptor?

Well this is a complete guess (and no I have not looked at the Guardian) but I would say the original name for Subbuteo was going to be "The Hobby".

But they couldnt register it.

The Latin name for the hobby bird is Falco Subbuteo

So they called table football Subbuteo

just a guess

(Whats the prize?)

Guess, my arse.

But well done.

Your prize is to ask the next question.

I'd rather not guess your arse Mct ...but I do have to admit using Google. Keying in raptor and subbuteo gave me the answer amazingly quickly

Which makes devising a google proof question quite difficult


ok which European country has access to 3 seas and land borders with 9 other European countries/principalities

I would know one, but it borders no principality but a granddukedom ...

ok well for the purpose of this question grand-duke-doms or whatever they are called count or should be countdoms? anyway if they are not part of this country (damn nearly said it ) they count as having a land border with this country.

Did you hear on the news this morning, that women are officially crap at parking?

Tis true, much as I hate to admit it...

I'm a crap parker - even reversed into my daughter's car the other day, was going to try and get away with it, but was grassed up by my own granddaughter!

They said that in Germany, they have special 'lady parking' bays that are bigger than the usual - is that true Walter?

How civilised!

x

Yes, that's true:





And here's a blueprint of a planning




Seriously, yes, we even MUST have them in car parks, always near to the entry/exit.

I'm not sure, if they are/must be greater. It least, it doesn't look lik it

Well that bad parking isn't her fault...

It's the man's black car over the line!

x

its the hunting thing

men have better spatial awareness, developed through hunting wilderbeast on the savannas. Like Cheshire.

Women are better at empathising. Walter showed a good example of what I call "empathy parking" a few posts back.

I always like to remember when I've stalked through those savannas, searching the wild best ...

My tomatoes are dropping off!

Why?

The leaves are not discoloured, I water them everyday, I've fed them. There are loads of tomatoes, they are green, but if I nudge them or try and move the branches, they just drop off!

Where am I going wrong?

Will they ripen on the windowsill?

x

page 5 of the link (PDF) has info on : DROPPING TOMATOES

Thanks for that, Hanburger.

Most useful.


x

Yeah, they'll ripen on the windowsill okay.

About fruit drop, I'll ask my FIL who is a bit of a horticultural whizz, and come back.

yeah thats what my father and his mate used to do

whiz on them

3rd prize Hazel Grove horticultural society c. 1961

Bet his prize pees were the talk of the neighbourhood.