The man from the Clapham Omnibus

Many years ago when I was growing up there was a movement to end legal racial discrimination in the USA . Martin Luther King, Jr.made one of the most famous speeches ever ! He said:- "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." There was a joke going around at the time that this would lead to an end of discrimination on grounds of race , sex and ABILITY ! People laughed and said no way . M.L.K. himself believed in discrimination based on " the content of their character " and rightly so ! He also said " A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan. " " I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. " " Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance ...

I love this new ad from Yeo Valley (even if it does owe more than a little to a previous Canadian milk campaign ). I've included the lyrics below so you can sing along! LYRICS The sun is up, the milk is chilled, it's going to be a good one. Yo, yo. Yo, I'm rollin' in my Massey on a summer's day, chugging cold milk while I'm baling hay. Yeo Valley's approach is common sense, harmony in nature takes precedence. My ride's my pride that's why you never see it dirty, and I love it here man, that's why I'm never leavin' early. I'm looking good in my cap and my shirt, I'm representing for the West so hard it hurts. Yeah. We make this look easy 'cause we're proper modern with this farmin', believe me. Wind turbines are shining, baby, it's solar farming no buts no maybes. Here we're down with the soil association and we do lots of what? Conservation! Sustain, maintain, it ain't no thing, We set ...

Building in Coupeville 4 - Ask everybody then verify ! . Sunrise over Penn Cove The next stage was to make sure that the basement would be dry . I decided on a belt and braces approach . First measure was to coat the walls with " asphalt emulsion " I chose asphalt as it can be applied to whet concrete . I initially broke off all the external protruding spring clips The I hammered off all the washers - as these are potential points of failure removed all loose concrete paying special attention to the footing brushed away all dust and debris especially again from the "dry joint" between the footing and the wall applied an initial coat by roller and brush where necessary into holes and crevices where the walls would e below ground level Second coated the wall being careful to ensure no gaps again being especially generous to the top of the footing and also where the spring clip shafts went through the walls Second task was to install insulation externally - I economi...

Just after the Labour Day weekend holiday Eric's team began setting up the forms that would hold the concrete in place around the reinforcing rods . Firstly Kurt examined the plans to determine where the driveway would end up . Now that the basement footings were in place he first calculated how high the ground floor surface would be . Then he took off 21 inches for the final height of the garage screed . This would give three steps down from the kitchen to the garage . From this he knew the height of the driveway at the garage . He then set up a string line from here heading to the driveway stub . This was to be the ground height across the building and determined where the basement concrete walls could step down . By code here the walls must either be full height so they are supported by the floor joists or can be a maximum of five feet to support a maximum of four feet of soil . Any more soil and the wall could bow out where the concrete attaches to the wooden section . The n...

After talking to everyone who would listen I got the details of three likely foundation guys . I contacted them and handed out plans . Eric Walters was recommended by JT Madson and his brother Mike . B and B construction and Chris Marty were also highly spoken of by local builders . I met with Eric at the weekend in Langley and got a price per Yard and a yardage estimate next day . It seemed reasonable and he could also start immediately. I then got a cheaper ( by $60 per yard ) one next day from B and B and was minded to accept it . I called them for clarification and a start date . I was disappointed but not surprised that they were quite busy - they also we going to charge me for more extras than Eric . They were avid hunters and the short hunting season was almost upon us and the elk in Idaho were calling . I had to go back to Eric and accept his quote . I am not one to play one contractor against another . Eric and his team turned up as he said a day later and set to work at onc...

I have always been interested in the outdoors and love the countryside . I also get bored easily without having an aim or purpose to my activities - be it to get to a specific point or to get photographs for instance . I have also been keen on shooting and guns from when I was a child - this was considered quite normal then ! I believe that the countryside is important and should be preserved and if possible improved for the benefit of both wildlife and future generations . I know that hunters in Britain have been at the forefront of protecting and enhancing the outside environment to maintain a good habitat for wildlife to flourish in - unlike some farming practices which are about profit from the land .However thankfully many farmers are hunters too or see a profit in conserving wildlife and the land for hunting to the benefit of all. As a London born city boy I have no personal experience of hunting so I decided that now I am in Washington State USA I would learn more so I booked o...

I got started finally . First I located and marked my property corners . These are special metal pins placed by a surveyor and legally define your corners ! Once you find one the others are best found by taking the dimensions from the lot plan and measuring them out physically ! I also contacted the Utilities Underground Location Center as is required by law Second I marked the setbacks on the boundarys showing where the building will sit . Then a big problem - the building 's position is right where the trees were ! Therefore thirdly I had to get out my chainsaw and strimmer - or weed whacker as they call them here and clear the site ! Three days of hard work later - god willing - I had the area clear and had marked the building position and the area for excavation for the full basement I had planned . It was good to see the deer taking an interest - Pictures here . I got J.T. Madsen who is a big man with an even bigger digger who clearly enjoys his work . Despite the hard...

I am all for sustainability but I am a tad annoyed by having my building permit delayed because I did not give calculations for the size of the rain garden I am having to build on my property . For those of you who are unfamiliar with rain gardens they are a sort of above ground soak-away and garden feature . They are meant to ensure that under all but the most extreme rainfall conditions that the rain that falls on the roof and other impermeable built structures is directed into the soil where it would have gone if the home had not been there . I am aware that in cities such as London where properties are very close together there is a problem with too much water flowing into old Victorian drains due to so many gardens being made impervious largely for car parking . This does not seem to be an apparent problem in Coupeville ! However I am new in town and a foreigner to boot so what do I know . I just intend to be a model citizen so am happy to go along with the requirements that are ...

The Hinchliffe family had a problem with security on boarding the second leg of our trip to Seattle . Calgary security thought it was possible we were terrorists trying to take on board a quantity of liquid explosives cunningly disguised as Channel No 5 ! - or did they ? I wrote them this letter - I await their answer with little hope of justice ! 15 Aug 2010. Without Prejudice Dear sir , I am writing to you as I am in the process of making an insurance claim relating to two bottles of Chanel no5 that were taken from me by your officers . My family and I were travelling from London Heathrow to Seattle Washington with Air Canada . After clearing security at Heathrow my daughter Emma ( 20 ) purchased two small ( less than 200 ml ) bottles of Chanel No5 at a duty free shop in the airport and gave them to me for safety . Nine hours later we landed at Calgary on flight AC 851 . The local time was 13:15 on Sunday the Eighth of August . We swiftly cleared Canadian immigration and cust...

I helped David Kelleher with his " Traps " or what we call crab pots in England . Here is what I learned - a photo guide to " crabbing ".A good location is important - local knowledge is a great help . Wear the right clothes for the conditions . Crabbing is messy and it can be cold out on the water . Take your time and enjoy your surroundings ! Bring along plenty of good bait - in this case salmon waste purchased from a local fish market . Go out to your traps and carefully pull them in hand over hand being carefull to keep the rope tidy and your standing area uncluttered . . In this case the traps were on about 100' of line at about 60' depth max . Bring the trap into the boat in one smooth movement taking care with your balance and footing . Next sort out the "leagal" crabs from the rest carefully returning the others . In Washington you are only allowed to take 5 crabs per person per day during the crabbing season though one " crabber ...

I have been travelling and living in the USA on and off for more than 5 years and I am still constantly finding things that are similar but different . The first thing is that the USA is a union of separate states who all have their own way of doing things . I am principally in Washington State which is on the far West Coast at about the same latitude as France . Part one - Driving and Cars ! Americans drive on the Right side of the road . They use stop signs not give way signs - and you must stop . These may be on one two occasionally three or more often all four roads at a junction . In England there are give way signs on the more minor roads and main roads have priority . You can drive straight on if the road is clear without stopping . In the USA this is called a " California Stop and is illegal . Roundabouts are rare - universally hated and called " turnabouts . Driving tests are much cheaper and generally easier and you can take the " theory test " which ...

I think I am a pretty fair landlord . I want my tenants to be happy and to feel at home when they rent from me . It has always been my belief that if you treat people right they will treat you well also . The golden rule - do as you would be done by even ! In the main this generally works out but not always . Some people take generosity as a sign of weakness and push for more . Others take it as their due and give nothing back to the world . I for one would rather be generous and therefore feel good about the world and myself . I would rather be taken for a mug occasionally than be cynical and treat everyone with disrespect ! I try to do any repairs swiftly and fully or pay for someone else to do them . If a tenant repairs something down to me I generally take that into account and reduce the rent accordingly . If someone wants to spend money on one of my properties to make it better I generally come to some sort of agreement where either we share the cost or one pays and the other doe...

Every so often I visit a chiropractor to keep my bones - especially my back - on the straight and narrow . This stems back quite a few years ago when I was having problems with it . I was fine working but if i stayed in the same position for more than a few minutes my back started to hurt . I could not sit down , I could not stand up , I could not ignore the pain ! I asked around and went to my Doctor . A few people told me Vav Simon got lame horses to gallop , The doctor said it was quack useless and unnecessary treatment . I rejected his advice and booked an appointment . She asked questions and examined me . told me my pelvis was tipped to one side and trapping nerves ! This was not a supprise but sounded bad ! She told me she could fix it in two or three visits - this did suprise me and sounded good ! She tapped me about and stretched things very gently , told me to get dressed and walk about . Really weird - I walked like a drunk swaying to one side ! Then I understood - my legs w...

About a month ago I knelt down and felt a sharp pain in my knee as if I had nelt down on a bolt as I have done in the past - I'm an untidy worker ! My knee went and after I got off the floor I looked for the " bolt " and found nothing . Nursing my now painful knee I thought little of it . About a week later and after my knee had , I thought , recovered from the bolt caused bruising I gingerly knelt on the tiled floor of Morrison's supermarket to get some Pepsi-Max from the back of the bottom shelf . A loud animal scream was heard all along the Isle and I was seen rolling around the floor in agony ( how embarrassing ! ) I had found another " invisible bolt " Another ten days and the tenderness in my knee had departed so I decided to examine it carefully . I found there was something small and hard under the skin which moved around quite a bit when i pressed on it . The " invisible bolt " was inside my knee ! An appointment was made with Dr Moore on...

It snowed heavily and without warning on Tuesday evening . I was in the cinema with Adam and did not realise what was happening . We got out of the car park and , sliding all the way , through the ungritted town centre . We had to abandon my van at my old home on the main road and complete our journey on foot . My Daughter Emma was in Portsmouth at university and she could not get back to Newport as the ungritted roads became blocked with abandoned vehicles . After 3 hours and less than one mile she , along with many others took refuge in the Flemming Arms in Binstead . They gave her some dry clothes and let everyone who was stuck stay until at after 3 am word got through that the council had finally cleared the main road to Newport . Everyone you meet seems to have a smile on their face and appears friendly and eager to help out anyone they can . It seems that human nature makes people happiest when overcoming adversity not when" having it easy " . The temperature has hardl...