So you think you are clever?

These are not trick questions. They are straight questions with straight answers.

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?

3. Of all vegetables, only 2 can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only 2 perennial vegetables?

4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?

5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?

6. Only 3 words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them?

7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?

8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.


I will post the answers later!!! Anyone brave enough to try?

GALA BINGO SIGN-UP for Farnborough

press release is as follows:
Gala Bingo has exchanged agreements for a bingo club on the first floor above the proposed new Sainsbury store in the £80 million Farnborough Town Centre scheme which Key Property Investments (KPI), the joint venture company between St Modwen Properties PLC and Salhia Real Estate Co., is poised to begin.
Subject to the completion of a development agreement with Rushmoor Borough Council, work on the construction of the scheme in which the 34,000 sq ft bingo club is an early phase, is expected to start shortly.
Simon Rutter of St Modwen said: "I am delighted that Gala Bingo has agreed to come to Farnborough. It will add variety to the retail and leisure offer in the new vibrant and lively town centre which has been planned for so long."
Steve McKenna, managing director of Gala Bingo said: "We are delighted to bring the Gala Bingo brand to Farnborough so that the local community can experience a fantastic night out."
Press release ends.

When I heard this news I am afraid I was really disappointed. Although, I must confess in Victoria Road we have many elderly residents that may see this as a "fantastic night out". On my list of "fantastic nights out" Bingo just is not there.

I just see Farnborough as more of a Theatre venue than a Bingo venue. Cultural entertainment rather than a mindless game of chance appeals to me, and in my mind better for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Surge of bike thefts in Rushmoor

Police in Rushmoor are urging residents to be vigilant following a spate of bicycle thefts in the borough. Between March 12 and March 26 a total of 12 bicycles were stolen from addresses and public places throughout Rushmoor.

Three examples of these thefts are:
1. At around 11.45am on Monday, March 19, a bike was stolen from outside the BP petrol station on Prospect Road, Farnborough.
2. At around 3.45pm on Sunday, March 18, a bike was taken from a grassy area next to a playground in Totland Park, Totland Road, Farnborough.
3. Just after 5pm on Saturday, March 17, a bike was taken from the back garden of an address on Guildford Road West, Farnborough.

Crime Prevention Officer for Rushmoor, Graeme Barbour, said: “Several of the 12 bikes which were stolen were left unsecured outside shops, near playgrounds and on private property. Others were secured but were stolen nevertheless. There are simple precautions you can follow to protect your property and reduce the chance of you becoming a victim of this sort of crime. Don’t make your property an easy target for thieves.”

To avoid becoming a victim of this sort of crime, officers are offering the following advice:
1. Always lock you bicycle, even if you are only leaving it for a few minutes.

2. Lock you bike to an object which cannot be moved, such as a bike rack.
3. Invest in a good quality lock. Hardened steel D-shaped locks are recommended as the minimum standard.

4. When you lock your bike, make it difficult for the thief to remove it. To help stop thieves from breaking the lock, keep the lock away from the ground and keep a small gap between the lock and bike.
5. Avoid leaving it in isolated places, leave your bike where a potential thief can easily be seen.
6. Security mark your frame and record you bike model, make and frame number. Take a clear photograph of your bike and make a written record of its description.
7. When you are at home, keep your bike and a secure garage or shed and keep the door locked. Keep your bike out of sight.

If anyone has any information about the theft of these bikes or would like more information on how to protect their property please call the nearest police station on 0845 045 45 45.

Easter Flight - a shocking landing!

Had a wonderful Easter flight, I taking off from Old Basing I flew into wind towards Reading at about 1000m it took 20 minutes and I got to see the Wind Turbine, and all the cars making their way busily along the M4. But the best part of the flight was taking a birds eye view of my hero Wellington's estate of Stratfield Saye House and its beautiful grounds. I am personally glad Wellington did not pull in down and build his "Waterloo House". I had a breath taking view.

Well before long I was back over the landing strip, checked all was clear, identified another pilot flying below me, came in nice and slow, cleared the trees - then a power line jumped up and hit me from no where!!! I had missed the poles camoflaged in the tree line on the edge iof the field, and did not see the wires in front of me. The first I knew was a large bang - very luckily not on me, but about a metre above my head. I fell just 20 or so feet, so no harm done. Although I must thank the very kind farmer who was so considerate and thoughtful of my welfare despite the fact I had knocked out all the power to his dairy.


I now have to live with my new nickname bestowed by my fellow pilots .... "The Line Dancer" this replaces my current nickname of "rainman" for insisting on flying in the rain one mad moment! For more pictures of our flying group see http://ukparamotors.spaces.live.com/

Happy birthday Charlotte

Twenty three years ago today, I became the father of Charlotte Olivia Grace Clifford. I was there in the operating theatre when she was delivered by Cesarean section. In fact I touched her before she was born, and stood next to the surgeon as Charlotte was literally pulled into the world. She was a month early, her mother Linda was totally exhausted and had been in hospital 6 months with placenta previa. Charlie's first few days of mortality were spent in a gold fish bowl with lots of tubes. But every day we took her out and held her little body, gripped her tiny hands and fingers one by one, squeezed her little feet and toes and kissed her soft little face.

How quickly the years have gone. I cannot believe it is 23 years already. And with each passing year we love her more and more - especially since she left home.

Happy birthday Charlotte