Started off the day tidying up, getting the Landy ready and decided after a couple of hours hard work we needed the much promised Subway, Porl being Porl had to have everything on his sandwich because he didn’t want any confrontation with a lettuce or chilli (Like in the advert apparently!).
…some (couple) hours later we needed our last supper at KFC. By 8.30 we thought we had better start packing.
By 11.30 we thought we were all ready, getting settled down for the night and Porl reminded me I needed my passport!!!
After getting that we stayed up until 12.30 watching bloody Terminator 2: Judgement Day!
Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category
The last supper!
Monday, June 15th, 2009It all went wrong before it even started…Thankfully!
Sunday, June 14th, 2009After doing most of the last minute things we decided to have an Ice cream in Henley, and what better way to do it that by going on the ’78 DT… well half way, rest en foot! The thing seized up on us on the way back, meaning Porl had to push it all the way back home whilst I took photos and made fun! Suddenly it had all gone wrong at the last minute. Ringing Clive to tell the bad news was good news, turns out Russell had bought a bike for the trip but then decided on a better model so he had a spare bike… Quick go and get it then get insured in the morning!!!
Cadbury World
Sunday, February 8th, 2009Over the weekend I thought I’d treat Jakki to see how the love of her life is made… no not a porno, or that awful ‘birds n bees’ video from high school – it was in fact good old Cadbury World in Bourneville.
Started off with a shock on the entry fees, an adult ticket will cost you some £13.45 of your hard earned cash, let alone the children’s fee of £10.30; all making a family day out extremely expensive I should think. None the less we decided to enter the choctastic world of Cadbury.
For the fee you get a packet of Buttons and Curly Wurly on entry and a Dairy Milk Bar half way around the tour which consists of;
Aztec Jungle
A brief history into how important the bean was to the Aztecs and that it was used as a source of payment for food, drink and even slavery. Sadly doesn’t include a taste of the Aztecs original secret recipe of the Chocolatl, which used spices instead of the common milk which we have come accustomed to.
мебели сливенJourney to Europe
How the Spaniards killed off the Aztecs and returned with the cacoa beans which became a source of drink for the wealthy. Had a clever 3D projection system with a little story line.
Bull Street
A replica layout of a small shop in Birmingham where John Cadbury first sold tea of all things. Allowed the opportunity to take photos whilst waiting for an 8 minute show…
The Cadbury story
The story told by Mr Cadbury and then how his two sons Richard and George progressed with the family trait away from the city and developed the village that is still here today, Bourneville. Quite inspiring, listening to the way they explain their ‘Quaker‘ beliefs helped them create a better class of working.
Making Chocolate
From delivery of the beans, to the separation of the liquids to the milk chocolate we eat, it is all explained here with a few little surprises… If you don’t want to know, move your eyes to the next subject, otherwise, it’s not much to get excited over but it is quite comical feeling like a cocoa bean for a few minutes, from some pressured gas bit which I missed but made most of us jump, to being shook vigorously and then baked it was all a giggle!
Manufacturing
Bit of a disappointing area, this has now been moved to an interactive video, which still gives a good insight into the manufacturing of our favourites such as Roses, Buttons, Crunchie, Turkish Delight, Dairy Milk, Cream Egg… but it’s not like seeing the real thing.
Moving around the factory
Whilst moving around the factory there are all sorts of interactive things to do and see, but none as exciting as having your photo with erm, erm, what have they done!!!
Packaging
Sadly came through the packaging department whilst the production was limited, they gave us the feel for something going on but I’m sure this was just a few boxes on a circular! None the less, this was a little interesting to me as we work in production environments and it was amazing seeing how things come together in other fields of work, particularly the speedy wrapping process.
Cadabra
Now this is one not to be missed, how sad, funny yet totally pointless is this ride… Most definitely for the kids, but just looking at how many different themes and facial expressions someone can think of for a cocoa bean is somewhat amazing!!! Particularly look out for the abdominal snowbean! – oh and don’t forget to smile for the camera here again!
Demonstration Area
A little over crowded for my liking, but there were 3-4 demonstrations going on, from tempering, to moulding to writing all with chocolate of course! Opposite this is the process for creating mouldings such as the Teddy Bears, Shoes etc, this was a little more interesting but slow!
Advertising
First of all you get to walk through the Coronation street chocolate set and get the opportunity to go through interactive screens again to see all of the adverts produced for the show. Amazing how much detail when into an add, including the right amount of cobble stones, to all the cast plus a special competition winner. Next part of advertising seemed to lack a lot of the history, I should imagine there are some adverts over the years but this could have been more interesting by covering more adverts. None the less they dated back to the first one in the 50s to more recent 90s.
Purple Planetonline casino
Didn’t seem like much was going on here, but it seemed to be a modern style of interaction, including screen sensitive movement, cocoa bean growing, chasing an egg on the floor, the Purple Planet itself in a clever 3D world and a see yourself made out of chocolate, or as this seemed to be for us was ‘American Megatrends’ artistic display – doh, another reboot (from home to home!!).
backgammon free casino money free craps game play free black jack craps video poker strategy play black jack online how to win video poker casino game online uk best casino online casino secure online gambling jackpot casino online casino black jack learn to play craps how to win at video poker craps online blackjack casino game online casino betting free on line video poker casino games no download casino online gambling casino play free casino slots video poker machine bonus video poker free on line slots double bonus video poker free video poker games free casinos roulette online craps rules free on line casino rules of craps online casino free money blackjack 21 internet casino how to play craps free casino game download fortunelounge online casino free casino download free casino card game free roulette game free casino play no deposit free money casino internet casino online The World’s Biggest Cadbury Shop … Apparently!!
Last but not least, its the shop, the ‘worlds biggest’ apparently, well doesn’t say much about the others!!! Although the choices were varied, from your normal chocolates, an impressive 5kg bar;
;That is about 30mm tall! to the Gorilla or Caramel Bunny, pjs to pens, T-shirt to mugs or a really small discount chocolate factory but it wasn’t all that impressive to be honest.
Cafe
The cafe seemed quite good, from having things like soup, to Paninis to Sunday lunches to ‘any 5 items’ which was great for kids and grown ups too. The choices of deserts were the ones to look out for and of course far more tempting. Although not a fan of mouse, I had to try one looking at them and I was suitably impressed. 2 large Cokes, 2 Paninis and 2 Mouses cost around £14 which wasn’t too bad, it filled a hole!!!
All in all not a bad day out, for me I enjoyed seeing the history of the company but would have enjoyed seeing more of the manufacturing; after all that is what they do best!
I’d say;
7/10 Price,
8/10 Time spent,
9/10 Interesting,
9/10 Interaction
7/10 Queues
9/10 Smiles
Wow, long time!
Saturday, January 17th, 2009It’s been a while since I last came here and wrote anything so I thought again, new year new start I would write more… but already we are 17 days in to it!!!
Reviews of 2008… I think I will just leave that one for my memories, not a productive year at all.
2009 however, lets start optimistic!
Within the next 2 months we will be seeing the final fall of Weberrific as neither of us (Dean and I) have the commitments anymore. I do still intend to keep the site(s) alive and maybe, just maybe actually develop a few… Looking at it, I have nickwilkes.co.uk, where-local.co.uk, redditch4x4.co.uk, wilkesphotography.co.uk. hmm, what to do! Lets review in 12!
Although work has been difficult, I have full intentions of getting to grips with a few things this year, in particular my timing and motivation. We have a lot of work scheduled for the next few months so that has at least taken the strain off things for a while. With Lamborghini and Bently placing large orders with us it stands a chance that things will be quite challenging and interesting for me. This week has also seen my annual review which went very well I feel with a mutual understanding of where I am and what it is next I need to achieve. It was a little dissapointing to hear no cost of living increases planned for the year but under the current climate I guess it was innevitible… There goes the house buying idea! But none the less, I am now a Software Engineer, no longer Junior… thus meaning I now have to show my worth and develop into a more expanded, professional and self motivated role.
That leaves me with pretty much 2 options to leave us with, save save save… haven’t proved to be any good at it in recent years but this is the year of the save! The other option being inventive and dynamic, with my interest in automation significantly increasing I have all these wacky and wonderful ideas in my head which are probably already out there but the fact they are hard to find suggests that it is either in its infancy, or is just a poor idea… Time to investigate (Watch this space)!
Farley Quarry Round 2!
Sunday, March 16th, 2008Went to Farley Quarry again today…
The Suzuki SJ410 out performed many vehicles that were there and it was generally a really good day out with no problems – Apart from my driving! As you will see we had a few very near misses and of course couldn’t manage the day without rolling it on the side, it’s not many people that can say they have rolled a car twice, but I am sure there will be many more attempts but I intend to keep it to purely off roading events now!
Uncertain Changes
Saturday, March 15th, 2008We all go through dramatic changes in life, but never did I think it was possible to feel so low through them.
There is a level of uncertainty for me at the moment, I have no way of knowing which way to turn, and even if I did, I think there would be nothing but emptiness awaiting the other side of a monstrous hill climb.
My career has become challenging, of which I have no idea how I am going to cope, and at the present moment in time I think I need friends more than ever, but that is something else that is changing, our friendships have become weak to the point it feels lost, like a long term relationship it feels a relief, but at the same time it leaves you looking at an empty space within your near future. I have been spoilt for friendships, but never have I felt so alone, maybe because I have been so spoilt and now have nothing it is a shock. Nothing ever seems to come easy or ever rewarding and there is only so much that one can take without there being consequences, uncertain consequences that hurt.
Something must come along surely? Life is never about doom and gloom for me, so what is going on? Bring back the happiness, please!
Farley Quarry 20/01/2008
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008On Friday 11th January I won an auction on eBay and collected the Suzuki SJ 410 on the 12th for the sum of £330;
Since then my dad, Jon and I have done nothing but work work work on this little beast (aka Roller Skate) to get it ready for Farley Quarry near Much Wenlock, which was on the 20th. A new clutch was required, new battery and alternator and a few legal issues with the trailer.
Started fitting the clutch on the 18th and immediately had problems, we had bought the wrong one, registration of vehicle seemed to be incorrect with engine, no problems, we looked further into it, apparently it had part Fiat, part Spanish Suzuki, with special thanks to Sureparts. Sure enough my dad managed to get it in by late Saturday afternoon and it was suddenly a mad rush to test it all, to my horror I didn’t concentrate properly and wrapped the trailer lead around the front bumper of the SJ… without realising I drove it off the trailer and nearly wrecked some £100 worth of electrics but thankfully nothing was damaged. On a good note the clutch worked a treat. So she was ready just in time for Sunday.
Got to Farley quarry, she started up a treat which was good news as the alternator was not working and we were unsure of the new (old) battery condition. Porl got in and we went around a bit of the grounds to see what was about, I saw something interesting; axle twisters (extremely uneven ground over a short space). Within 5 minutes I had almost rolled the vehicle, we were precariously balancing near on 90 degrees sideways! Driving in this position is quite difficult and stalling really doesn’t help!
Porl decided to go in his vehicle and I follow for a while, this scared me a bit as I was still totally new to it all… I regularly forgot to let handbrake off and have now managed to totally knacker that up. I stalled the car a few times, but was really amazed with her capabilities up the hills.
Not a video of my car, but almost identical to what I did in the same spot (in wetter conditions) – not that I am trying to make excuses! I got my wheel caught too in the same way, causing the vehicle to go up at 90 degrees, but twice, you would have thought I had learnt the first time!
In the mean time however, when I stalled, it wouldn’t restart so I was stuck in this little ditch that is far worse than it looks in video. After trying to get her out for a while, a chap comes over with an electric winch, great, got the straps out and started pulling. All of a sudden, ‘snap’ the strap frayed and snapped flying the shackle on the end straight on to the window, smashing it completely.
Got it restarted and went for dinner, had a whopping great big double beef burger with cheese, MMMMM!
After jump starting it down a hill, I just thought that things were going to get worse, but carried on out. Within minutes I was struggling to find gear and managed to stop some way away from the starting position. Had a little look but couldn’t really do much so Porl towed me back to the trailer and we left it there whilst going out for a little longer.
Absolutely fantastic day out (to the point of wetting myself of laughter!) and are now aiming to get it all repaired and better than ever for Sunday 10th February which is at Sibbertoft. Finding someone to deliver a windscreen is impossible so I am going to Chesterfield on Friday all being well, might have to stop in at Deano’s as it appears the scrappy is minutes away from his house, bargain!
How clean does she look considering the dirt she had been in, damn!
Football
Thursday, December 20th, 2007Well, what a game! I feel as though I have learned a lot tonight from our game… For some it may be offensive (I’m Sorry) and for others it may be an appraisal (Bloody Hell)!
Tonight showed how different we all take the game, and the fact we didn’t let anything get to us and the way we worked is why we came out on top. Firstly we noticed their weaknesses and beat them, we worked as a unit/team, we had no internal competition, treated all equally and we did a hell of a lot of shouting!
You may laugh at the amount I shout, but most of it was appraisals or making life easier for others. The shouting encouraged people, not belittled them, this seemed to give people confidence in what they were doing and they excelled throughout the game
Passing was in an abundance and apart from the few opportunities or where there was only a solo effort, there was no selfishness. This created a zig zag effect straight past them every time without fail, which also suggests we had a structure, and seeing as though most of us scored many or had plenty of opportunities it shows there was always support at the back or the front whenever it was needed. Hardly ever did the whole team come unstuck for all rushing in one direction, we almost took it in turns to go up and come back, with minimal support only when it was required. Don’t stand in one spot all the time, even if it is open, move your feet, create chances, and most importantly mark people and stick with them. I never used to be a marker and I struggled when I had to, I was a space marker and I think I did very well at it. I now manage to mark people far better than they mark me, this is by taking a healthy balance between my speed and strength. There is nothing worse than having to mark more than one person and seeing your own team standing in open space running circles only around themselves!
When marking people you put them under instant pressure, something everyone on our team achieved fantastically tonight, they didn’t stand a chance very often and this really showed when you hear the frustration shouting out loud.
In essence, the game became far too easy for us seeing as though we were huge underdogs on paper, but that gave us a challenge and I have noticed how pushing yourself gets so much satisfaction. I give myself a goal to be running as much at the end as I do at the start, the only way I get there is pushing myself beyond a barrier that I get, everyone on the opposing team tonight reached that barrier and became worse off. When you reach that barrier, push yourself further and further, you will be amazed how fit you become and when you get beaten, for pity sake don’t give in, you become far too much of a walk over, chase them, get fitter, get better then you will be beating them, every time.
All in all, not a bad game, I do prefer more of a challenge though, and it did become far too unfair… but I think we showed how it should be played, of which I haven’t felt in ages… Partially because no matter how much I rush around I never feel part of the team but tonight I think I can say we all felt that… maybe something for others to consider? Partnerships don’t work, single runs don’t work, but remember ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’.
P.S. No offense, I noticed a huge difference with the two parties missing tonight, don’t know how others felt?
I do have a little rant to make though… What is it with the hand ball claims all the time (LEARN THE HAND BALL RULE!!!), we should have let probably every hand ball go tonight with the exception of the top of the arm control and the blatant hand ball 4ft out!!!
If the hand touches the ball, and the hand is in line with the body and direction of flow, let it go unless it is blatantly on purpose, and anything that isn’t a legitimate handball at other times (It’s not rocket science, I can assure you!), get over it – it does my head in!