Time is just slipping through my fingers

Been a bit naughty and not visiting this blog to update on the goings on at 122 recently.

I think not having a push from Blue Skies may be part of the reason. The other is that I just don't seem to have any time nowadays. I am not saying I don't get any downtime because I do. It's just that it seems to be filled!

I am still loading my CD collection on to the PC then on to iPod. I have loaded all the albums and am now into complilations, of which there are a few! Over 8800 tracks on the iPod now and still have a bit of space to spare.

Tonight I am putting the Brit Awards 1994 on. The way I have the albums organuised is one entry per CD. The compilations have one entry per track. So I have to change each track listing. A time consuming exercise!

Also on to series four in the Babylon 5 series. Have the lot on DVD and had forgotten how good the show was. At least one programme a night is the aim - not always acheived! But wirth the attempt. One Sci fi show I thought was super but can't seem to find on a region 2 playable DVD is "Space Above and Beyond", can get it on region 1 but not 2. Wonder why. It was brilliant.

Ches and Al around to sleep tonight as their car started smoking and is now in the garage for repair. Ches needs the car to stay in work. Public transport travel is a non starter, she is on duty tomorrow from 07.45 so it is easier for her to operate from here. Her work is walking distance tomorrow. Makes sense all around. Not sure how much the repair is going to be but she expects a bit of a dent in the old finance area.

Just watched the England game. Just glad we got three points and no silly bookings. Hard one comes on Wednesday.

Just as a matter of interest my Dad has gone to Switzerland with sissy Clare. At one stage he would never leave these shores (with one fairly major exception in the 40's), now at 83 he is catching up with our European neighbours! Ah well.

Uncle Robert, the Red Peril, has e-mailed his latest ramblings. I thought you would like to hear what he has been up to recently as he too has been a bit silent. Bring it on HR.

"Meanwhile (see the pics) I have fitted the PE scope to the Soviet Mosin Nagant rifle and stripped off the shellac preservative they put on all their 'Mob Stock'.

I fed the wood with Danish oil and then applied finishing wax so that the wood seems to come alive again and the laminates have a translucent lustre where the appearance changes as the light falling on it changes ( ie : when you move the rifle around).

Instead of the flat, plastic texture of a hard laquer , the oiled wood is almost like skin and has a wonderful tactile quality. It smells ace too !

I learned skills to apply elsewhere too : whilst applying the Danish oil (from Focus, and made by Ronseal!) I put about an egg cup-full in one of those plastic spheres that come attached to washing-liquid containers. I half-filled a plastic cup with boiled water and sat the ball in the cup so the oil was warmed.

Then poured small amounts into my hand so that I could massage it into the wood of the rifle ( this is the recommended technique). Of course it occurred to me that this could be applied elsewhere.... and would remove the 'temperature-shock' factor when applied to a human body !!Are you with me on this>?

Those plastic cups and the little white balls are an absolute godsend!!

I went on a trip to Bisley at the weekend (Tidworth Gun Club had to cancel a booking at Bulford MoD range so booked a couple of slots at Bisley). In the morning, the range we used was one called "Short Siberia" (which I felt was appropriate), and I was able to check the zeroing on the newly-finished Mosin Nagant and PE scope at 200mtrs.

Then after lunch the club had booked a couple of lanes on "Century" range (its originally had 100 lanes) but that is out to 600 mtrs (or maybe yds!).

I was chuffed because to me Bisley was like Wimbledon is to tennis (as it is really) and quite daunting. I was quite nervous about going there at all. But I found it very pleasant.

The atmosphere is great and the architecture almost "Colonial"! They rent out lanes on the ranges during the day and one can phone and book a lane for a morning for between £18 and £28 depending on the high or low season.

Seems a lot but it should be useful and a good break from work ! "

Well thanks to HR. If any of you out there in blog land want to add a comment then feel free. I will then add your comment to the next post.

Time to go and sort the Brit Awards CD so night night to you all.

Tony, hope all is well and you are reading this!!!