Day 498 – Friday 19th July 2019
A wet start to the day and there’s more rain forecast – in other words a typical English summer’s day 🙁 What to do?
Leaving Zippy outside Reigate station I dipped deep into my pension pot and bought a couple of return tickets to London…
… to visit the Natural History Museum
The weather was really miserable…
London in July
First stop we popped in to Harrods to have a nose about; it was full of tourists like us.
Harrod’s Food halls
Back in the 80s with their big ostentatious displays Harrod’s Food Halls seemed like fantastic places but now the whole place is just like an upscale deli and it’s a lot less impressive. On to the Natural History Museum.
the Victorians knew how to build impressive buildings without going 136 stories up
Inside I didn’t really like the Natural History Museum…
… it was crowded, well it is free and you are pushed along
I also think we’ve been spoiled by TV programs such as the Blue Planet…
… no one’s impressed with a bunch of dusty old bones these days…
… or a stuffed elephant or two
Thankfully next door they have the wonderful Science Museum
me and Apollo space suit
It wasn’t crowded and was stuffed full wonderful old machines and also everyday technology so you could see the development of ordinary everyday objects, things we have left behind…
this stuff was hot shit 30 odd years ago
an Atari & Texas Instruments
Beatamax
The bizarre…
I have a 1960 model JR32 Gobin teasmaid although it rarely works these days
… they had a working Ping Pong machine, guess who won this game 😀
On the very top floor they have a collection of flight simulators for between £4 & £7 but the queues were a bit long, I think you’d have to get here first thing in the morning.
Outside the Science Museum the rain had stopped so we walked back to Victoria station. I was surprised how light the traffic in central London was compared to the A25 & A217 through Reigate.
we came across this Lamborghini which according to The Sun is owned by an Instagram millionairess Daria Radionova
who paid a small fortune to have it covered in 2,000,000 Swarovski crystals. Personally I think it looks shit.
Day 499 – Saturday 20th July 2019
The rain was torrential last night and it’s still drizzling with a forecast of thunder and lightning later. This British weather is fabulous isn’t it!
Braving the threat of rain we went to the open day at Reigate Fire Station.
they had a cracking little bike for me
I got to sit in a real fire engine!
and I got to help hand pump the hose of a Victorian 22 man fire engine.
Apparently for an hour’s pumping volunteers were paid a handsome one shilling plus all the free beer they could drink 😀
a shilling an hour, I was fucked after about 3 minutes but I could see why they got free beer!
The highlight of the afternoon though was Julie trying to get in a fireman’s uniform as fast as possible. The record for the day was 16.9 seconds…
Sadly, for various reasons, most of the pictures I took have been deemed unflattering and out of 20 odd only 3 have passed the censor.
At the beginning; trying to get the boots and trousers on. Julie would dramatically fall forward in a second or two; those pics and all those of the following red faced hilarity have been deemed unflattering
The next pic that passed the censor was at the end!
Finished in 36 seconds
Day 500 – Sunday 21st July 2019
A dry and sunny start to the day.
While cutting through the park on my way to the shops I met a nutter 😀
I was just walking across the field when he theatrically ran around me then started to follow me about two steps behind. Of course having worked in System Control at NATS for 38 years, I am well used to dealing with strange people.
I stopped and asked him was he trying to be funny and he just repeated my words then repeatedly shouted “I like the look of your knife” and other random things in my face.
I wasn’t particularly intimidated but it struck me he shouldn’t be out in public alone so I got my phone out and rang the police to report a nutter in the park…
… at which point he walked away.
I followed him while describing him to 999 but he didn’t like me following him at all…
he got his car keys out and started to complain to them that I was stalking and harassing him!
Anyway Surrey Police didn’t seem too concerned with this blokes behaviour; I don’t think they attend anything less than a mass stabbing these days. “It’s budget cuts mate init”
Day 501 – Monday 22nd July 2019
Spent the day working on my family tree.
Day 502 – Tuesday 23rd July 2019
A banging hot day. Watched Boris get elected PM on the TV then out for lunch.
my choice of eatery was closed for renovations – nice seat!
So we went to Morrisons & Marks and ate by the lake in Priory Park
The walk home through the countryside was draining in the heat.
The grasses high and dry
Day 503 – Wednesday 24th July 2019
A banging hot day. Took Nelly for an MOT and a quick service then on to the Chalk Hills Bakery.
it was only open!
Goats cheese, tomatoes, rocket and warm bread, a match made in heaven
In the afternoon I sat inside in the dark and watched the Boris Show on TV. He is driving the BBC & other Remainers completely bonkers. Excellent!
I say chaps are you entirely sure I’m supposed to be here?
Day 504 – Thursday 25th July 2019
Going to be an absolute scorcher of a day so up early and stocked up on beer and Magnums for the TdF’s 1st real mountain stage in the Alps.
Today could be a 4 Magnum day
Stage 18 of the TdF was a great bike race up a few mountains including up the Col du Galibier all 2,642m of it. That’s very very nearly twice as high as Ben Nevis!
The riders were pushed to their limits and after 3 magnums so was I 🙁