Seen in Basingstoke

Beer has nothing to do with it except I found the picture probably from my son in NZ he works in a bottle shop..

what I saw was this 

There is and I have commented on it to my friends a huge number of vintage and veteran cars in Basingstoke . It is unusual for me to go out and not to see some notable car ,van or Lorry , whether Milestones Museaum (see Travelbeter) has anything to do with it I dont know . Note this van is 'original , save for the wheels ?

A good day

There is a certain relaxation about not having to go to work. There is some adjustment but basically you realise if you don't do it today you can do it tomorrow. My eldest daughter was made redundant the shop she worked in closed. 17 years and a handshake in what was a small establishment and on the face of it close knit little group . Its why businessmen are successful , in the end we are resource not people . So she is home I am home , my youngest daughter is home having given me a second grandchild and matt is home cos that's the way his shift worked out. For once it was a nice day, most of my family was here and we sat in the garden. Its quite peaceful I have my grandchildren around me jasmine just is an endless Joy ... Its been a good day retirement is bliss.

The devils in the detail

I have a Vodafone handset. . I want to put a Spanish SIM in it. I phoned Vodafone and spoke to Rajit who assured me it was his absolute pleasure to assist me today. I asked my question. Oh yes Mr Haler you must take your phone to a Vodafone shop so they may apply an NUC unlocking code. I thanked him and confirmed he could do no more for me today. I gave him top marks on the Vodafone how did we do survey. I am very lucky with surveys Barclaycard almost always randomly select me every time I log on .Many of the questions are not relevant but there is no where to explain that. I frequently wish my Lottery numbers were selected at the same rate.

The handset has not been used for a year so at 0700 I put it on charge. At 0830 I found the charger wasn't working. The light was on but nobody was home. I had planned to treat myself to a Turkish makeover then go to the Vodafone shop. Instead I went to the Barbers had myself rejuvenated and then cycled back home. My handset was charged by now so I cycled back into town. I don't mind I am retired , I have time and I need exercise. I see old people , bugger that, keep moving !! So into the Vodafone shop and up to the help desk. Need this unlocked I told the 12 year old behind the desk. cant do that sir he said, we have to send it off ,its all changed that's the bad news, the good news is that it,s free !! You need to fill in a small form online. Sorry ? You mean I have to go home log into Vodafone and fill in a form ? Yes . Well I just spoke to Rajit and he didn't say any of this, cant you do it here?  No sir its changed I will write down the website address. Don't bother I said , cant you do it from here ? No sir .. So I told him not to bother , grateful that I had 3 who offered coverage in all the countries I care about for the same cost as using my phone at home. Well not quite as it turns out. The young lady in Three said it was only for 3 months OK? Ya? (yes she did speak like that honest) she kept sweeping her hair back from her face in the best femme fatal mode as she told me ..  so its not quite the Freedom I wanted . It is , she explained , for holidaymakers . I am a holiday maker I said just a long term one OK ? Ya ?

Ex Hirsuite

Okay so I use the Turkish Barber in town. I have often thought I would treat myself to the full monty , hair cut , hair wash and blow dry , face massage , head rub , hot towel and detailed beard trim

I smell like a Turkish bordello (not that I have experience of that sort of thing ,superb would have been more relaxing if the barber had not spent half an hour trying to keep himself out of the Turkish army but it allowed me time to drink my coffee. On the plus side I said I want to come out of this looking like Brad Pitt . He said you are more handsome already , cant argue with an expert. Course his English wasn't good may have said that will be extra.

Pondering

The sun is shining and it is a nice day ,BUT, I no longer feel any desire to rush out into the garden and enjoy a nice day there is after all always tomorrow,,  Ah retirement where is thy sting !

Nearly bought a car yesterday a Toyota Avensis , top of the range 3 years old and 12000 !!! miles on the clock £12998 and I got it down to £10500. If I had been working I would have bought it but everyone in my family said what do you want it for ? So I left it .

I have books containing information I stumble across in drunken moments that interest me*. Sadly I have many books because I accumulate things and I end up with a plethora of everything so spread out I cant find things so I am trying to consolidate them into the Purple Book of middlemarch** - well the purple notebook I was given as part of my whimsical leaving gifts from Gist (all of which have actually proved quite useful). I have enjoyed a few cups of coffee out of the gist mug. So did you know Josephine Bonaparte (not tonight Josephine) was a white Creole (did you know there were white Creoles) that Napoleon Bonaparte tried to join the Royal Navy or that Murat when facing the firing squad said Not the face (now that is style). That the Boston tea part was because the tax had been REPEALED , it that George Washington*** had his men inoculated against small pox

* The facts interest me not the drunken moments

** A Tolkien /Gist play on events only I understand.

*** Amazing coincidence to be named after the capital , must be like the Beckhams naming there kids after the place they were conceived (I had a friend called Bike Shed).

I did this

The last time I was in spain and the only time I was allowed out on my own I spent my time painting. Well thats a lie really I meant to spenf my time painting like some bohemian artist in victorian times but I found it took no time ar all to knock these up , I know proper artist spend weeks months , years doing this stuff but to be honest I dont have the patience. They look better displayed like this anyway.

I try different styles the rug is discernable around the edges of the painting I could edit it but would anyone care ?

I have done this a couple of times , it is a lot of work but I quite like it. Thing is though when you paint for a hobby what do you do with them. I cant say to friends you can have them unless they actually do like them in which case they might say can I have it you put them in an impossible situation if you offer them and they dont want them or like them and think of the hurt , most of mine get binned .. I am to sensitive.

Pondering

This is my first post on the new computer. I have been using the tablet to find my way about and not as I usually do leave it until I need to do something urgently then and then fight with the technology.

When I put in my resignation (you cant retire anymore) I had done all I could to ensure I was as ready as I could be of course that was before the country decided seppuku was a better option. I wonder how secure I an and if this will be the worlds shortest retirement. Least said.

My granddaughter likes to use Microsoft paint. She was playing with paint when she pointed to the screen to show me what she had done (she is 2) she touched the screen and drew a line Her face light up in utter delight . She was incredibly excited and when I set it to shapes and she found everywhere  she touched drawing hearts her face again light up with delight again and again .
The weather forecaster  said Have a good weekend and I realised this was no longer relevant , in fact weekend are probably less to be looked forward to as more people are around.
Anyway I am now beginning to get what I want on this tablet , I am beginning to discover how much it does exactly what I want