September 30th, 2008
Around this time up in the Rocky Mountains the Elks start their mating ritual. The mating call of the male Elks is called “Bugling” . They call in the females and then spend the rest of the month fighting off the other males. It is quite a ritual and attracts thousands of visitors to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We saw this magnificent male in full throttle. Up in the break in the trees you can see another male skulking in the woods waiting for his chance to nip down and grab a few of the girls. It didn’t happen in the half an hour that we watched the show. But I don’t think he gave up that easily…nature isn’t like that.
Posted in Home in Colorado | No Comments »
September 25th, 2008
As most of the world knows we have a gas crisis going on in America. Folks are not used to paying $4.50 or more for a gallon of gasoline. We are hooked on big cars with big engines and we are hooked on cheap gas.
Expensive gas causes much anxiety in a society that is used to BIG gas guzzling vehicles. I found one persons solution to the problem fascinating.
He hooked up his HUMMER (one of the worlds great gas guzzlers) that gets about 8 or nine miles to the gallon to be towed behind his camper vehicle (another one of the worlds great gas guzzlers) that gets about 5 or 6 miles to the gallon…???
If we see this type of solution as being our future we are in DEEEEEEP trouble…..!!
Posted in On the Road | No Comments »
September 15th, 2008
There is a famous English expression that goes “Steady the Buffs”. It means to the general public that someone is wavering and about to break and they should be supported and prevent from collapsing. But the expression was first used on the parade ground when a line “wavered”. I always knew that the BUFFS were and English Army Regiment but I did not know that the Regiment came from Kent and was formed in 1572 and has now been disbanded.
A special chapel was set up Canterbury Cathedral for the regiment with a memorial book and all the battle banners that the Regiment has won over the years. And they were in some major battles, many of which my family members fought in. I paused at the gate and gave thought to the many men who had fallen….
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
September 11th, 2008
Thomas A Beckett was murdered in the room where this cross hangs in Canterbury Cathedral, in England. It was another of the places we visited. He was actually stabbed and hacked to death in the corner of the room and when the Pope decided he wanted to come and pray to the Saint Beckett a cross was hastily erected on the wall. It stayed there, as once the Pope had visited the entire room became a place for pilgrims to visit. I liked the way the shadow struck the wall….I think Thomas would have liked that….. not that the room had many happy memories for him, that’s for sure.
Posted in International Travels | No Comments »
September 10th, 2008
So having lost my camera in England I attempted to use my TREO as a camera.
It does not have the best lenses in the world but at least it was better than nothing! So here I am walking down the road in Oxford when I came across this street sign. It appealed to my sense of humor that only the English could come up with a road sign of such arresting attention. I mean, what were they thinking of?? I wondered if there was a country house in the area called Titup Hall? Was there a Mr. Titup? a Mrs. Titup?. A Lord Titup perhaps? The mind boggles.
Posted in International Travels | 36 Comments »
September 9th, 2008
I have been away in Europe for a week. It rained the whole time but that is a typical English summer so I was not too put out by that. But what did upset me was losing my camera half way through the trip. It meant no blog pics, no memories and one less thing to carry on my person. I have a TREO, a phone and a camera and I am constantly losing one of them. It was time, I decided to get an I=phone that could do all three things..take pictures, make telephone call and receive and send e-mails. Easy I thought! HUH!! Was I wrong!! I spent 4 hours between the ATT sales office, and the Apple Technical support office and on the phone with my IT people and NO-ONE could get the I-phone to get my e-mails. It was some sort of sick joke…three highly skilled (I use that term in a slightly mocking sense) companies trying desperately to make a piece of equipment that they make and sell to work ….and they couldn’t do it. So I gave the phone back and asked for a refund..I got the refund LESS 10% for a restocking fee charged by Apple (we will see about that!) so for all of you thinking that life is made easier by having technology at your fingertips…think again. Me, I had them reload my TREO, I may just write my blog and give up on the photos…..as for the people on the Apple Genius desk….(that’s where they fix things) you have really great marketing guys…but that’s it! The customer service support really is a farce.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
