britishness?

I see "testing for Britishness" is back in the news in the UK at the moment, with new study materials due any time now, although there's a creeping internationalisation like the recent removal of the little crown from British pints, in favour of the CE symbol, which is French for Conformité Européenne.

The test includes a question about the distinction between, "the United Kingdom" and "Great Britain". Similarly, the date of the last successful invasion is known by many as 1066, but the date of the last failed invasion in 1797 (the French tried it), is probably known by a much smaller minority. And although some people will know about the Act of Union in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, I'll bet a lot more people don't know anything about it.

So maybe the questions about how to pay a phone bill, or "which National cricket team do you support"? will be used as part of this strange screening process. Or perhaps a trip down the pot noodle mine

In the mean time, pass the HP.

tags technorati : rashbre britishness british

wrong kind of snow

London has received its first snowfall of the season and, yes, the trains didn't work properly. For London commuters, this is not a surprise and the two cliches for travel disruptions are, in Autumn, "leaves on the line" and in Winter, "wrong kind of snow".

So today's light dusting caused Network Rail to admit that if there had been more, the electric point heaters would have switched on. And they would have used more anti-freeze on the switchy bits. So the 'loose wet snow' pressed between the points caused them to jam and not switch the tracks.

"When you get extreme weather conditions there will be disruption," the spokesman said, referring to the overnight sprinkling. Good to see the senior executives have just been paid bonuses for the improvement in reliability.

OTA Wordless Wednesday

lost in the casino
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Juke Box Brits

One of the best specimens of a mammoth with its huge tusks was found in 1860 in the area now known as Ilford, Essex.

Popular urban myth is that Queen Elizabeth I crossed the river at Ilford and named it an 'ill ford', although Ilefort existed from Saxon times and in the Domesday book, known as Hile-ford - a ford in the River Hile (now the River Roding).

Fast forward to pop music times and Ilford became the centre for the Britannia Music mail order business, eventually leading to a series of annual awards, known as the Brittania Music Awards, subsequently shortened to 'The Brits'.

Nowadays, Ilford and Britannia Music (now of Jersey) have nothing to do with the mammoth music industry and Mastercard sponsored event which is a precursor to the American Grammys.

So here's the Brit Juke Box of nominations; check out any of the 40 plus tracks.

tags technorati : rashbre brits grammys jukebox

awash

My fence panels destroyed by the wind are nothing compared with the stricken container ship "MSC Napoli" off the coast of Devon at the moment. Apart from the 3,500 tonnes of oil, there are 2300 containers on the ship, which could take a month to remove individually.

Some 200 have already fallen into the sea, creating some interesting flotsam and jetsam being washed up on Branscombe beach, including a consignment of 50 BMW motorcycles, which seem to have been assisted from the beach by various members of the public.

In scenes reminiscent of Moonfleet, there were people on the beach looking for interesting items which are supposed to be described on a special form for the Receiver of Wreck. Barrels of wine were amongst the items washed up, although the L'Oreal beauty products were probably easier to carry.

tags technorati : rashbre ship msc napoli wreck

last Sunday's stroll

Paris, France - on the Strip

Venice, Italy - at the Venetian Hotel, with its indoor canal and gondolas

Beijing, China - in the Bellagio Hotel

Hotel Corridor, looking like something from da Vinci

Indoor shopping, with the Mall's control over day and night-time

The Strip meets Flamingo Road, Nevada - showing a more American perspective

wind

October and March are supposed to be windy months in the UK, but now we are getting an unseasonally mild but very blowy January.

I retrieved two blown out fence panels before I'd even unpacked from my USA visit yesterday and neatly stashed their remains behind a wall for shelter.

By this morning, because of last night's further high winds, one panel had scattered itself around the nearby grass again. It looks as if I will be doing some involuntary gardening today.

z

So I'm back in the UK now, having spent around ten hours on the plane, which left Las Vegas during Friday afternoon and arrived at London Gatwick around 11.00 on Saturday.

By the time I'd collected baggage and car and driven home, it was around 13:00.

I am a tad tired now.

Tao

I've been nightclubbing tonight at Tao, which looks Buddhist inspired and should be somewhere in the Pacific Rim.

It is multi level, draped in lush velvets and silks, with waterfalls and a hand carved 20 foot high Buddha that floats peacefully above an infinity pool. There's a huge main room and a separate chill-out area.

There was a sushi and sashimi service and a separate chef assisted buffet. The DJs were spinning hot music and upstairs in the sanctuary area of the club there were living visual effects, candles and views to the strip.

75 napkin night pictures from tonight's Tao, here

The way.

voodoo lounge

Tonight included a visit to the Voodoo Lounge which was on the 51st floor looking out to the Strip. The venue was rammed with people inside, though the roof balcony had plenty of space as well as a brilliant view of the entire area. I guess the low temperatures were keeping people inside.

OTA Wordless Wednesday

only in Las Vegas
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jet

Jet Nightclub this evening.

A multi floor ultra-lounge, with three dance floors and three separate sound systems.

Amazing cocktail bars and buffet food. TT was my beverage of choice.