20:Recycling

In UK, in most towns and cities, there is a recycling facility where people take things they no longer want/need. The range of items that are now recyclable is growing all the time. Great Britain has embraced recycling in a big way. This is good news for the landfill sites which are growing larger all the time.
As well as the local recycling facilities, most local councils issue different coloured wheelie bins which are collected regularly from outside your house. For example, in Huntingdonshire, we have green bins for garden rubbish, blue for recyclable materials - e.g. newspapers & bottles, and grey for general household rubbish.

Dead computer monitors

19:My mum!

Here is my mum! She is 86 years old. She had a fall a couple of weeks ago and is a bit frail at the moment. She enjoys a drink and smokes like a chimney and is disappointed that she can no longer throw herself around the dance floor.
Here's to you, Mum!

18: 3 laps around Silverstone

The long-awaited day had finally arrived and I got to experience the thrill of driving a Ferrari 360 around Silverstone. I knew I was never going to break any land speed records but I was determined to enjoy the ride. There was a co-driver who talked me through every inch of the course - where to position the car on the track, what gear to be in, when to break, when to start the turn and so on. All in all a great day.

17: Home Sweet Home

I'm home

But not for long - off to Silverstone to stay with some old friends tonight and then drive a Ferrari around Silverstone race track tomorrow.

A nice flight home yesterday, although it seemed longer than usual. A slight hiccough at the end. As the plane was coming in to land we suddenly changed from descending to ascending and found ourselves back in the air instead of being on the ground. The pilot announced that the plane in front of us hadn't got far enough along the runway so the Air Traffic Controller had decided to abort our landing and send us around again. We landed safely about 15 minutes later. Phew.

I'm struck by how expensive transport is in UK. Heathrow to London on the Paddington Express £18 (900 roubles). King's Cross to Huntingdon (about 100 km) £29 off-peak return (1,500 roubles). When you compare that with Roubles 320 for the airport express from Domodedovo to Moscow or a monthly 70 trip ticket on the Moscow for 1,700 roubles......... Still, mustn't make comparisons like that - apples and oranges.

16: Park Pobediy (Victory Park)

Four photos today showing how Russians like BIG. This is their victory park which celebrates victory over the fascists in the Second World War. In Russia WWII is called the Great Patriotic War and countless millions made the ultimate sacrifice. These photos are of some of the advertising boards in the metro station just outside the park. The battle of Moscow and battle for Stalingrad are in the museum as dioramas and are very impressive and thought provoking.

Off to Blighty this evening. Next post from there.....

15: Chilli Peppers - Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Two blogs in one day! But this one couldn't wait.

A salutary reminder to anybody involved in preparing chilli peppers to always wash their hands after handling them. I went to "spend a penny" afterwards and I can say it brought tears to the eyes!

For anybody that hasn't heard of the Red Hot Chilli PIPERS please have a look at them on you tube, buy their music, and go and see them. A vibrant and exciting mix of guitar and bagpipes. I went to see them in Ayr a few years ago when I was involved as Interpreter for the rededication ceremony of the Russian ship Varyag. They were great.
Red Hot Chilli Pipers 

14: Vincent

The sun is shining; it's time to be uplifted. Watch & listen to this you tube video about Vincent Van Gogh as sung by Don McLean. I hope you will agree there some beautiful pictures. The song, too, is inspirational. The lyrics are included for you.
Starry, starry night..