Snow! where's my skis?

You may have noticed that there has been some snow lately.

With that in mind, here's some photos  of my street and car in the snow today - an enforced day off beckoned. Now the downside is that I've just prepared 2 videos for the air cadets who meet tonight, and I doubt strongly that I'll get there to show them now.



And because it's snow... here's what happens when a dogcam, a racing driver, 2 skis, 1 snowboard, and Tamworth come together with some appropriate music

The Perils of Geneology

My mother recieved this e-mail this morning after someone found a page on their website with all the family's many blacksmiths on it... What follows is the result of someone not quite reading the information, specifically the date of death... James Allen is my 4xGreat Grandfather, and died in the 1880s.

----- Original Message -----

From: Zhangli

To: blacksmiths@mcmullin.plus.com

Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 4:22 AM

Subject: Blacksmith hammer

Dear James Allen,

This Alina from Anyang Forging Press Machinery Industry Co.,Ltd,know you are blacksmith,and I am glad to introduce our company to you.

My factory is a professional manufacturer of CE approved Pneumatic Forging Hammer in China, the Forging Hammers are very famous in Europe, America and Australian Markets.

Pneumatic Forging  Hammer Ram weight at 9kg,15kg, 25kg, 40kg, 55kg, 75kg are best used for art blacksmithing such as drawing-out, upsetting, punching, chiseling, bending and twisting.

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Mobile:0086-13783837582

alina@chinesehammers.com

From the makers of USF1Formula1.com

The Journal - Issue 1 - March 10, 2010 by Flood 1

We have compiled some of the blog posts into a turn-page magazine called "The Journal." The front cover is shown below. The link to the magazine is http://issuu.com/flood1/docs/the_journal_issue_1 . We plan to do this regularly just to group all the blogs together in an easy to read format. There is no content in this mag that is not already on the blog.

My suggestion is to click the full page button. The fonts are large and you should be able to read everything without zooming. Try the buttons at the top (they only appear when you hover the mouse at the top of the page) to discover the options available.

Note: Machines that do not use flash (iphones) will not work well with this format.

http://issuu.com/flood1/docs/the_journal_issue_1

In case you're wondering, I write the WRC articles for this!

Transmissions will resume

One of the many difficulties of writing a blog about working in the Telly industry (or attempting to) is that there's a lot that I can't tell you about until it's released. I can't really tell you about the work experience placement I'm on at the moment, and I probably can't tell you that it's with a large Cardiff based production company. Or that I've been logging cards for the last two weeks.

Oops.

I certainly can't tell you that my part time job in Sainsbury's is driving everyone mad because of a refit at the store, but I think I probably can get away with telling you that the shop is shut this week. Not that that makes any difference to working there. Apparently though, I can't tell you about the brand new ******* or even the new ******** because if I do, this post will probably be censored.

But I can tell you that the work's very hard, it's very pressurised, and that now my knee has packed up completely, so when dressed in a leather jacket, according to mum I walk and look rather like Herr Flick of the Gestapo.

Don't ask.

Rally GB - Preview Part 2

Yesterday's post was all about the first part of the season, now lets look at the second half up to this weekend's event

Loeb's run of good luck was about to come to an end. He's always had a super reliable car, and his co-driver, Daniel Elena rarely makes mistake. His talent is unrivalled. Yet on the smooth gravel roads of Sardinia, in Italy, he collected penalties for lateness, made mistakes, got a puncture and then was given a 2 minute penalty when Elena took his seatbelts off to early to fix it. Still, he could have done what Henning solberg did, and crash on the 11^th Stage instead, but using the Superally rule, he returned and finished 8^th. 7^th was Mads Østberg, 6^th was Wilson, 5^th was Novikov who had actually managed to finish a rally for a change, Loeb finished 4^th after recovering from his problems and penalties, 3^rd was Petter Solberg, looking happier than ever, 2^nd was Mikko Hirvonen, and with a huge cheer, 1^st was Jari-Matti Latvala

Maybe he would still drive for Ford in the future after all.

Loeb's season went from bad to worse in Greece, with a very rare DNF for the Frenchman. He was kept company by the only other former world champion in the pack, Petter Solberg's Xsara didn't like the rough roads of Greece. And who could blame it? It's almost as bad as Cyprus!

In 8^th, was a driver no one expected at all, The largely unknown Lambros Athanassoulas was another production championship driver, and only competing because it was his home event. 7^th was Nutter Østberg, In 6^th, Khalid Al Qassimi got greedy and wanted more than just one point this time, thank you very much, and Conrad Rautenbach actually finished in the points. He finished 5^th. 4^th was Villagra – when he turns up he's pretty good – Latvala continued to appease the wrath of Malcolm Wilson by finishing 3^rd, Ogier lived up to his past form in 2^nd having finally gotten used to the C4, and for the first time in the season, Hirvonen took a win!

Into Uncharted territory for the next round, the dry gravel roads of Poland. No WRC event has gone here before, but it's sure that they'll go back again after the success of this year. Loeb had a torrid time again, and could only manage 7^th, only managing to outscore Rautenbach who had finished 8^th. 6^th was a Polish rally champion and mayor (!) who had turned out to compete on his home event, and had the name of... and I hope I get this right, Krzysztof Holowczyc. Don't ask me how you pronounce that. 5^th was Matthew Wilson, 4^th was Petter Solberg who was back on form after the battering he had in Greece. His Brother Henning was 3^rd, Dani Sordo was the top Citroen, and Hirvonen won, again.

To the 1000 Lakes of Finland. It's hugely fast, very smooth gravel, and populated by lunatic Finns. So who do you expect to do well. Finns of course!

8^th place went to a Briton, Wilson. 7^th was a Finn called Jari Ketomaa, 6^th was Ogier, 5^th was a Finn called Matti Rantanen, 4^th was Dani Sordo, 3^rd was a nervous Finn called Jari-Matti Latvala, 2^nd was Sebastien Loeb, and 1^st was a Finn called Mikko Hirvonen. Interesting pattern. Unfortunately for the two Norweigans, the event didn't go very well at all with Henning finishing 30^th and Petter failing to finish at all. Another Finn called Kimi Raikkonen turned up. Apparently he's some sort of racing driver, who drives for Fiat in some international single seater racing championship or other. He was driving a S2000 Fiat Punto, and did a typical racing-driver-gone-rallying performance. That is, he went stunningly quickly, then had a huge accident. He was OK afterwards though, and is still driving those single seaters, but apparently he wants to make a step up into the WRC full time in the future. And good luck to him.

After this, Petter lost patience with his Xsara and bought a newer C4, but missed Rally Australia whilst he was testing his new car. Talk of a manufacturer drive started to follow the popular Norweigan in his absence. By now, Hirvonen had got the lead on the championship, and had turned into a real contender.

Turning upside down has strange effects on some people. It returned Rautenbach to his natural state of being upside down and he came in 17^th. It had a stranger effect on the previously resurgent Khalid Al Qassimi, who finished 20^th. Villagra got the point for 8^th instead, Henning took 7^th, Wilson got 6^th, Latvala celebrated 2 rallies on the trot without ruining another car in 5^th, Ogier returned to form with a 4^th place, and Sordo came in 3^rd. Then there was a fight, and Sebastien Loeb won – with Hirvonen second. 17 seconds covered the first 3 cars, which after 3 days and hundreds of miles is pretty impressive.

Back to Europe for the Tarmac rally in Spain. Don't ever bet against the Citroen drivers being bad here, they're exceptionally good. Parking his new silver Citroen C4 in the service park was Petter Solberg. And he got to work with it straight away, the rumours kept following him though. Evengy Novikov had also left the Citroen Junior team after one crash too many in Finland.

8^th place, beating Henning Solberg, was Villagra, proving that he's at least consistent, Wilson was also pretty consistent with his 7^th place, 6^th was Latvala, 5^th Ogier, 4^th was Petter Solberg who was clearly delighted with his new car, 3^rd was Hirvonen, 2^nd was Sordo and 1^st again was Loeb.

That result has set up an awesome showdown this weekend in Wales. With one point separating the top two drivers, it's bound to be close, who will win? Come back tomorrow for part 3!

Also available in print

Something that I've been doing with the air cadets lately is doing media relations work. Recently I sent out a press release after a successful event for the squadron's swimming team. Here's the result!

click here then turn to page 27

I think I'll keep an e-scrapbook!

(Spitfire IX + P51D Mustang) + Motorcycles = ?

Well folks, I'm back from Goodwood. Thanks to Martin and Chris on Post 6F for a great meeting with the flags.

None of us had done 6F before, and we were amazed to find it at the end of one of the aerodrome's runways. We were then surprised by an aeroplane coming in to land about 20 feet above our heads!

Then to the track action. The organisers had decided it would be nice to start with a great parade of mods, rockers and police vehicles. so out come the mods on their scooters, the rockers on their motorcycles, and the police in a range of immaculate classic cars, vans and motorcycles.

Unfortunately for the motorcyclists, and I'll include the scooters in that, the first act of the day was going to be an air display by two aircraft in formation - a Spitfire and a Mustang. These two wonderful aircraft come out, perch on the end of the runway, turn their tails towards the track, and at the moment the parade came around, ran the wonderful Rolls Royce Merlin engines up...

... sorry about the quality by the way, didn't have my usual camera to hand, only my mobile phone, but you should be able to see the mods on their scooter being blown all over the place by the planes!

After enjoying the first lot of practising, I took some time off to look around the circuit. In my orange hi viz kit, I felt more conspicuous than usual... it was like steeping off a flying saucer! The majority of visitors had dressed like something out of the 1960s, and with the old style advertising, cars [post 1966 vehicles are banned from the site and can be forcibly removed!] and racing, it felt like stepping back in time. Which is of course, the whole point. Sir Stirling Moss had turned 80 on Thursday, and was around the track surrounded by autograph hunters. His parade on Sunday involved lots of waved flags [in celebration, since it wasn't an actual race], a 8 gun salute from the Royal Horse Artillery, a greeting from Buzz Aldrin who had landed earlier in the day to judge the aviation concourse, the entire crowd singing happy birthday in an attempt to drown out Lord March's sister's singing, and a rendition of "Rule Britannia" in a style that I'd never heard before. And I don't particularly want to hear it again, thank you very much. I'd rather listen to the engines attached to the Vulcan, which came over and drowned everybody out, including Lord March's sister!

Sir Stirling himself was every bit the British Hero, and dismissed the question of whether he might slow down a little with the answer "Well I'm only 80!"

Next year, I'll be back. The Festival of Speed is already a fixture, and the revival is sure to match it. I think I'll don a period costume though.

Solving a mystery

This may surprise you, but I've always liked aircraft as much as I've liked cars. I'm also quite fond of boats as well [why do you think I have a kayak?] This is one of the factors that influenced my decision to become involved with the air cadets. Anyway, since I am also now the radio officer with my local squadron, I thought it would be rather nice if I could find some radio call signs from civil aircraft in the area, show the kids real radio use in action, that sort of thing.

What I found, was the South Wales Aviation Group's website logging all the air traffic in the area. Fantastic! Just what I was looking for. Then I spotted a posting about a new helicopter flight simulator in Cardiff...

I have received an email and some pictures from Duncan McDonald at Veritair concerning their simulator initially assumed to be G-USTA ..It appears this is partly correct however on examination of the pictures below it appears to be 2 frames merged together ..the silver and black bits are definately from G-USTAquestion is can anyone identify the rest of the machine please.

Interesting indeed, and it turns out to be the return of a television star of the late 80s. No, not Duncan McDonald - G-USTA. Which is a helicopter. That was enough to spark the interest into researching where the thing had come from in the first place.

Remember "Treasure Hunt" by Chatsworth? The one with Anneka Rice running all over the place jumping out of helicopters? Well Chatsworth went on to produce a sequel, "Interceptor"

You can find out more about the programme on the fansite, which also has details about the aircraft used in this similarly aviation heavy format, this time using a big Augusta 109 haring around the place at low level, flown by re

luctant TV star, Michael "Mikey" Malric Smith - who also featured in "Treasure Hunt" and "The Flying Gardner". The aircraft itself was owned by Castle Air Charters, based in Cornwall and a prolific supplier of aircraft for use in film and TV, both as stars and also as camera ships. Indeed one of their aircraft was recently spotted over Cardiff filming something, and another one features on one of the BBC one idents. The Helicopter used in Interceptor was a menacing black machine with a yellow stripe down the side, registered appropriately as G-MEAN.

"Interceptor" didn't enjoy the long life of it's predecessor [or it's successor "The Crystal Maze"] and the helicopter was soon declared surplus to requirements by Castle air charter. The yellow stripe became Silver, and in recognition of the manufacturer, Augusta, it was re-registered G-USTA. Then it was sold.

Then the new owners crashed it... and Castle bought the wreck back to use as spares... Well they're expensive things, Helicopters, shame to waste them!

And so it came to pass that in 2006, the producers of BBC's "Casualty" film a storyline involving an "air ambulance", which was another member of Castle's fleet, G-BVCJ - the aircraft used in "The Flying Gardner". The script called for that aircraft to crash... so what do you do? Wreck hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of aircraft, or find a wrecked airframe to substitute for it? Not hard is it? So G-USTA received yet another re-paint, on one side only to double for it's sister, why use expensive paint on something if the camera won't see it? After filming there's not much point in re-painting it back again, so it sits around in a curious hybrid paint style waiting for something to happen.

Then Veritair look for a suitable A109 to become it's flight simulator... well what's this? a stripped out airframe just ready for such a purpose! they buy it, but the paint work [and the fact that half of it looks rather more like an American air ambulance] confuse them. They ask SWAG if they can identify the other helicopter that has been mixed with G-USTA... I find the post, ask around on the Interceptor fansite... and find out what's happened.

So there's a mystery solved. And an old TV star thus finds new employment.

Domain name problems...

Seems that sorting out the domain name is going to take much longer than I'd hoped. It'll be sorted soon [I hope!] then things will be back to normal.

And no, I didn't get the letter I had hoped for. No trip to Abu Dahbi for me!

Bye Bye Lampeter.

Well, that's it for Lampeter. It's a lovely little town, although, having said that, there's not really alot here it seems. I haven't had too much time to get out and about mind.

I'm typing this in my halls room on the hill overlooking the campus. It's pretty basic, but never mind that. This is my first experience of living on campus - previously I've lived at home - and I've really enjoyed it.

I've also found out a few things about myself, that'll be useful, and have now got 3 assignments to get done during my 3 weeks at a production house in Sunny Cardiff [you'll have to guess which one]

Things are, in other words, looking up.

But first, time to get home. I wonder if there's a letter from BARC inviting me to somewhere nice and hot?

Warning to reality TV show contestants

... and it's a warning that everyone in broadcasting is aware of by now : Don't forget that your audience could be antyone and everyone. Including government officials:

A Leicestershire 73-year-old who wowed audiences by breakdancing on Britain's Got Talent has had his benefit stopped.

Fred Bowers said the allowance he received for a leg injury has been suspended while the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8103153.stm

the moral of the story is that if you're doing something that you shouldn't in front of a diverse audience, don't be surprised if someone, somewhere has some kind of objection.

What an interesting weekend!

If you do have to go all the way to London [150 miles away from home], then you may as well make a weekend of it. Turned out to be a weekend of amazing co-incidences.

For a start, I arrive at the location of my job interview [that was the entire point of the trip], and whilst waiting a rather familiar figure comes out from his interview...

Only Boris Johnson himself!

In case you're wondering, the interview went rather well. Don't want to reveal everything here of course.

Saturday turned out to be the trooping of the colour, something that I hadn't seen before and it seemed a good chance to join in the festivities. We got a good spot in the Green Park, enjoyed the music, got a glimpse of a live Broadcast for BBC News, and turned out that we'd put ourselves right on the flight path of the Fly past! Doesn't get much better than that.

Meantime, now I'm back home, I've got the Supply Chain Wales conference to edit... watch this space

Mobile Phone Wars, part the second.

With apologies to Asp for nicking his idea of [noun] wars.

A few weeks back I mentioned the vultures out after my mobile phone, as the contract is due up. Well. I've pretty much made up my mind with what to do with it, but I need to know an exact date for the contract to end with my current, very pink, phone company who shall remain nameless. But very pink.

So I asked them via a webform...

[From .CO.UK]
message:How can I find out when my contract is due to end? I would like to know the date when I can cancel the direct debits and make new arrangements.

Many thanks

I got a reply which read...

Hi  Kevin,

Thanks for you recent email, I  have checked  your details and can see that we can offer you some excellent offers.

I am working monday to friday 11am till 7.30pm so if you want to email back  a convenient time to call you to discuss further.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Ivan Iqueo'six
LoyaltyTeam
Pinky Mobile

Where exactly did I mention I was interested in any of their offers? Which I'm not. I want a phone with skype on and Pinky mobile don't sell one. There isn't a date on the contract, but if I'm right, then it runs out either this Friday, or next month, which means I'm either about to be cut off, or I've got another month to put up with this bunch of clowns.

Joy.

I want... Information.

Driving between Treforest and Bridgend gave me a good glimpse of the new "Valleywood" - or Dragon International film and TV studios, near Pencoed. A whole 5 or so miles away. Drive past the site today and you'll see 4 TV studios all there, with their shiny offices attached, apparently all fitted out [but not necessarily kitted out] and just waiting for someone to move in.

Which by the looks of things, no one has.

So... why not? I can't find a website for the studios, I can't find a phone number, and I sure as heck can't find any information as to who actually owns the studios, who is running them, or if they are going to be let out to any production companies any time soon.

You can probably understand my fustration. Here's 4 brand new facilities and no one is using them - when by now there could be at least 4 potential employers practically on my doorstep!

Does anyone actually know who owns the place? Has there been problems financially? When is something going to happen!?

Similarly, every time I go down to Llandow I see two great big aircraft hangers, apparently sitting dormant. It occurs to me that with a bit of work you could have a studio/exhibition facility, half an hours drive from Cardiff... Think of what you could do with them.

Welsh international Motor and Motorsport show anyone? One hall full of the latest road cars and bikes, the other full of race, rally, and competition machines, the circuit buzzing to the tune of demonstrations... and the rest of the week the hangers become studio space for films and TV shows. I could personally do RST in there, and move outside onto the track for the track test segment.

There's huge potential around here, and it's not being realised. No wonder I can't find a job... no one is taking the chances that are clearly on offer!

Anyone got a spare £2m? I want to buy two aircraft hangers (!) 

Vultures!

Right now, I'm just a bit on the wrong side of stressed. I have a documentary to finish [it is finished bar putting Ulrich's wonderful music to it] write several essays, and then the small business of actually finding a job. At least one which gives me money, anyway.

It is therefore not a good time to be a telesales marketer selling mobile phone contract. There are about 8 companies out there all of whom are trying to sell me another new mobile contract as mine is running out soon. Like I said - Vultures. Circling my contract waiting for it to die.

If you're one of them, take a hint. Don't bother ringing me because I simply won't answer you. If I do want to deal with your company then I will phone you - not the other way around. For the record I'm well aware of my contract's limited life expectancy, and I've already chosen it's replacement. Now does anyone know how soon I can get rid of the one I have now.

Also it'll have Skype on it [guess the network then], which will make life much cheaper!

I hate phones. I really do.

By the way, apologies in advance if you're not a mobile phone company and you are trying to call me. I'm afraid that if I don't recognise your number I'm more likely to deny the call - if this happens wait, and leave a message...

This is a bad sign

When I do have to get on my bike and cycle to the station in Bridgend, I do find that I come across some interesting things. In this case [due to brake failure on the car] I come across this useful piece of advice at the end of a cycle path. Cycle Path Closed? How about - Cycle path would be closed if it was ever built and opened?

Just thought you'd like that.

Blue Monday? hah!

Amazing what little gems you can find on the internet isn't it? BBC News are reporting that tomorrow is the most depressing day of the year.

That figures, I feel very depressed already!

So, a group of Optimists [yes, a group] are determined to do something about it:

The Optimists' Society say they want to reclaim the "most depressing day of the year" as International Optimism Day. This year "Blue Monday" - a date in January regarded as the most depressing day of the year - falls on 19 January. The Society will send cheer packages to celebrities such as Jeremy Paxman, and will host a free comedy show in London.

BBC News

And good on them for doing so. Besides if anyone can find a way of cheering up Paxman, then they are on to a winner and why didn't they do it years ago.

To keep you happy. Monday will have 2 new videos. The first is a bit of fun with the Dogcam and my regular Cardiff to Bridgend commute, and a nice bit of Deep Purple. The other is something to prove I can film something other than cars, and something I hope you can all relax to - a nice bit of bird watching at a local nature reserve with some relaxing music from Vanessa Mae. Underage Coots are not allowed to watch it though. They'll be on the New Videos Player with any luck sometime tomorrow. [Monday]