Nick B. ®

Birthday Girls

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:12:50 -0800

Grand-daughters are growing up fast! Kady was 6 on Monday and Olivia is 2 today... We all went out for a meal on Wednesday.

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Happy Birthday Olivia

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:59:20 -0800

2 years old today...

im_vn_68b083ea.amr Listen on Posterous

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Midsummer's Day

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:23:00 -0700

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I love midsummer's day, especially when the sun shines.

In a previous existence we used to go to a holiday resort in the far north of Scotland. It was still light at midnight and I wanted to ensure I was getting the maximum amount of daylight for my money. Yesterday I'd got a day free due to my daughter cancelling at the last moment so I decided on a drive down to the Lincolnshire coast again for a stroll around the nature reserves, followed by fish & chips at Skegness. I don't understand how some folk can last a whole week at SkegVegas, two hours is just sufficient for me. There are some hidden gems along other parts of the cost but I'm not going to tell you where they are, I don't need hordes of folks turning up spoiling my day of relaxation.

So I packed up a salad and other goodies into the cool box for lunch and set off at 11.30.

Whilst on the way down there, I took my usual Grantham avoiding route which consists of a short southbound track down the A1 followed by a sharp left-hander off at Great Poynton (where it's signposted for Boothby Pagnall), up though the village, under a railway bridge then left onto the B6403 onto a north-north-easterly track which eventually brings me back onto the A52, having avoided the tedium that is Grantham town centre. Now I've not been along here for a few months so I was astounded at what they have done to the traffic island - It appears to be a mini-Stonehenge and being Midsummer's day caused me (and no doubt countless other motorists) to do a double-take. Further down the A52 in the Boston direction they have installed a multiple average-speed camera system, similar to the ones they have around Nottingham. Could the revenue from this be used to finance GranHenge I'm wondering?

On the return trip I managed to find somewhere off the B1176 exit to park up and grab a few pictures. Late evening, sun going down. Probably should have been there at sun rise?

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Indian Summer - Fort Amanda

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:37:43 -0700

This is Fort Amanda, somewhere north of Wapakoneta, Ohio. Originally a settlement for American troops in the early 1800's, now a cemetery, memorial and country park.

A brisk walk around the park there yesterday, enjoying a barmy 75F and the autumn colours. The river is calm apart from the odd ripple, allowing for a picture of complete symmetry.

Today is dull and windy (but still surprisingly mild). A contrast.

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Oktoberfest - Minster, OH.

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:30:05 -0700

We visited the Americanized version of Oktoberfest in Minster on Saturday. It seemed to comprise a large market selling food (but not an extensive selection) and crafts - very expensive and amazing how enterprising some people can be with old rubbish!

Beer was also on offer, mainly the usual American selection of Budweiser variations and some imports. You had to queue up and purchase beer tickets at $2 each and imported beer cost two tickets. Rather than drink the usual Bud I concentrated on the imports - Bass Pale Ale from UK was good but I gave the Stella Artois a miss. There was also a selection brewed locally in Mister with some subtle flavourings and the lager was particularly good.

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On the climb-out from O'Hare

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:16:09 -0700

Heading east-bound over the shore of Lake Michigan en route to Columbus. A wet day.

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Manchester T3 then Oktoberfest

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:24:09 -0700

On the move again, this time to Chicago and onto Columbus with American Airlines. Not flown with them before but if the quality of the boarding card is anything to go by, and the fact they code share with British Airways, then I'm hoping it should be a good trip.

Terminal 3 at Manchester is quieter and a lot more civilized than the bustle of T2. I've flown into O'Hare a couple of times and that always impresses me, particularly the neon lighting effects they have in the underground walkways. Almost three hours stopover at O'Hare then onto Columbus, OH.

This weekend is Oktoberfest (=beer) so planning to visit one at Minster, OH http://www.minsteroktoberfest.com/ . Also a home game of the Wapakoneta Redskins (American Football) against Saint Mary's so that should be interesting as I'm still working out the finer points of that game. Well I guess the US doesn't quite understand cricket either!

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Checked Baggage Lottery

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:52:42 -0700

After having to limit myself to one checked back with Delta Airlines on my last trip, I find I can now take two checked bags on the next trip with American Airlines as my ticket was booked prior to their cut-off date.

Result.

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Just arrived at NY JFK

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:28:01 -0700

Just arrived at NY JFK

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Storm Watch

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:33:18 -0700

I was checking out the forecast and weather radar on Weather Underground yesterday, hoping that I might get to see a good electrical storm to match the one I saw in Michigan City last year. Despite some heavy rainfall close by and a very optimistic forecast, it never made it here.

The clouds were interesting at sunset though.

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Rainy Atlanta

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:30:00 -0700

Arrived in Atlanta after 9 hours. Slight delays due to weather on the ground and when we landed it certainly looked wet. Fortunately my Verizon Wireless pre-pay phone bursts into life and I can call Bean and tell her I'm down. Two voicemails followed by a TXT.

A long wait in the immigration hall, then on to baggage reclaim. Declared my coffee to a customs man who waved me straight through. Drop my bag off at baggage re-check again then back into the security screening - all pretty quick. Jump on a train to concourse C and find the gate for Columbus. Just enough time here to grab a drink and a packet of trail mix from a vending machine, then a chat to Bean on the phone before they announce the Columbus flight is boarding.

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Next stop Atlanta, GA.

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:54:28 -0700

Here I am sat in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport (again). A big thumbs-down to Delta Airlines for changing their baggage policy at the last moment which means I now have to pay an extra $50 each way if I want to take a second checked bag - I've managed with one, weighing in at 16 kilos.. It's cheaper to buy essential items while I'm over in the US, the new iPod Touch 32GB is cheaper in the US with the present exchange rate.

I'll give them a thumbs-up however for the aircraft being a Boeing 767 rather than an Airbus. I'm doing the trans-Atlantic across to Atlanta, Georgia, reputedly the busiest airport in the US. From there on to Columbus, Ohio.

The road trip arrangements have yet to be finalized, planning to head south to Tennessee, maybe a bit further if time permits.

Must dash, almost boarding time!

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