AndyBlog

The Great Fire

Coming home yesterday I saw a massive plume of black smoke. It was placed in such a way that it could just about be our house on fire.

On getting nearer it became apparent that the fire was next to the Salvation Army building rather than right next to our house - thank goodness. TL nipped out for a quick look, but then we heard the fire engine!

Time to go out there myself, despite the high winds and lashing rain. I was rewarded with this view of two of Britain's finest fighting a horrible plastic and rubber fire.

Plastic cones and traffic barriers had been piled on this green area, prior to being taken back to the depot. Enterprising youths had taken it upon themselves to set them on fire. The smoke was acrid and the couple of lung-fulls I received were not pleasant at all.

This is my theory about how the fire was started. There were a number of them on the ground near to the place where the fire was. Cheap lighters with the tops knocked off - a great way to deliver lighter fuel to piles of stuff, don't you think?

As I retreated the rain got heavier and the wind gusted. Time to run for cover and warmth.

The exciting day was over and I had yet another chapter of material for my next children's book. Not that I have written a first - well, apart from "Mumy's Day Off" in 1980. (with Robert Wilkinson's illustrations)

I need to end this now.

Couldn't resist another one:

Clouds, sun waves, blown spume - all the key ingredients.

Cresswell looking lovely

Quite a sea today at Cresswell

People like me

A woman has just dialed my telephone number, and when I answered with my name she said:

"What did you say?"

I said: "Andy Curtis - that's my name, can I help you?"

She said: "OK, I've dialed the wrong number - I'm very busy you know - I wish people like you didn't have numbers so jolly* near to the one I'm trying to dial. It wastes my time."

...SLAMM!

I'd love to know which minority grouping has, as its sole identifying characteristic "phone numbers that are quite near to ones that people actually meant to dial". Whatever that grouping is, I'm definitely one of them.

Honestly - people like me.

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*Actual expletive printed here may vary from the original one used.

Anna!

Though chewing gum like it is going out of fashion, it was great to see a friend from Huddersfield here tonight.

Nice also to be recognised in such a big auditorium which is otherwise so full of strangers.

Ron Kenoly NOW!

So, here I am in Bradford to enjoy a service at the El-Shaddai centre which will feature the worship leading talents of the aforementioned Ron Kenoly.

Should be a blast but, unlike the last gig I blogged about, I WILL let you know how it goes.

I promise.

Been down that Blyth today....

...in the rain.

Ad.Lib Radio and YOU

I've finally done some upgrade to the Ad.Lib Radio web site.

I've placed the Podcasts on their own page and tidied up the main page a little - hopefully making the timing of the show easier to understand.

The other change is to associate the station more closely with the area in which we are broadcasting from. Ad.Lib Radio is based in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and therefore South-East Northumberland. I'd like to reflect our location, and also to throw open the station to geographically orientated programming.

So, if you have any ideas with where we might take this germ of an idea, please do let me know. I'd like to see the station used for more than just one show - and by more people than me. You don't need much knowledge of computers to run an internet show - just get in touch with me.

So, please do listen to the show on Wednesday nights 10pm-11pm or download the podcast from the web site.

It's best to listen live if you can, because the dual experience of listening and chatting with other listeners is particularly special - or so I'm told. I certainly enjoy talking to those listening when I'm trying to impersonate a radio presenter.

Enough said. I try to keep these posts balanced so as not to transgress into the repugnant territory of "relentless self publicity".

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction

Ever seen lorries with pipes on like this?

I have.

I've been driving along the motorway and seen several lorries with loads like this and I've wondered what the heck those massive pipes were for.

My guesses, and the guesses of those with me in the car were wide-ranging and sometimes entertaining.

"Maybe they carry huge amounts of waste oil to massive incinerators?"

"Could it be that they actually carry the internet inside them, thus explaining why it is so slow today?"

"Perhaps they are used by giant trolls to flush their lavatory waste away?"

Never, in my wildest dreams (and they are pretty wild, folks) did I get near to the real explanation:

"They are used to join up with pipes from the sea to carry a mixture of sand and seawater to a beach that is being re-stocked with sand from Skegness."

I do believe I would have laughed at anyone who guessed that, and imagined theirs to be one of those humorous responses designed to make us all laugh.

The Derwent Reservoir

The beautiful reservoir between Shotley Bridge and Stanhope

I've left this as a larg'ish file, so please click and enlarge it to enjoy it more betterer.