I got an e-mail saying 'At Google Earth we can read maps backwards!' I thought, "That's just spam."

I hate my new Premier League football sticker book...

For some reason, none of the Arsenal stickers will stay attatched. Evening all.  Right, the trip to Malta has finished.  And I have to say, we had a great time on holiday.  I did not make use of the internet when on holiday, so I will make the post about it now.  The kids did not know that we were to go there.  We stayed at Gatwick overnight, the kids being told that it was a surprise for my wife for our anniversary.  They fell for it!  Anyway, they were excited about the room.  And it was a good one, two single beds for the kids, a sofa bed as well, and the double bed for the two of us.  Although the service in the restaurant that we ate in was not perfect, the food was good enough and the kids had a great time.  It would have been a better choice to eat at one of the other places that served food, had we arrived earlier, but that fault was with me.  I had stayed at work in the morning trying to clear a load of overdue paperwork before leaving.  My wife and I have stayed at the hotel before, and other than the service at the meal not being as good as we would like, it was great and we would certainly stay there again.

Come the morning, and we had to wake early, we took the kids into the airport.  It was only when we were waiting for the check in desk that they realised and needless to say, more excitement. As we had woken up a bit later than we should (and to be fair, I had wanted to wake later, it was the wife who had said that we needed to get up as early as we did) we did not get to spend a lot of time in Duty Free.  A rush to the plane but EasyJet were great.  My son being only four allowed us to board early (otherwise being small, he would probably be trampled otherwise), something that happened both on the flight to Malta, and the flight back.  Of course, Malta meant nothing to the kids.  It meant loads to my wife and I.  We had stayed there in the past, BC (before children) at the Westin Dragonara Resort, but could not remember when.  Back then (the staff told us that it was probably in 2003) we had arrived at the same time that a conference for an Italian petrol company was being held.  Unfortunately, our room had been double booked.  We were to be moved to a different hotel for a day or two, the Intercontinental, or as I called it after our first night, the Incontinental.  We had paid for an upgraded room at the Westin and were given a Club room at the new place.  I thought that would mean that we could take advantage of the club lounge.  This was not to be, and we were kicked out when we went there for complimentary drinks.  The Westin had arranged for us to have a meal at their best restaurant, and when we were there, the manager came over to see how we were.  You see, we had arrived on my wife's birthday.  We had wanted a sea view room, and ended up with a view of a car park.  Anyway, we got a free bottle of wine, and a promise that things would be better when we were moved back to the Westin.  When we were moved back, I thought that we would have a room upgrade, and we did.  To the penthouse!  And we had booked to stay there for two weeks!  The penthouse was bigger than our house at the time!

Anyway, this time, I have to say that the kids loved it.  And just as we had in the past, so did my wife and I.  We ate at the different restaurants there, and while we did not have as good an experience at Palio's (in fact it was a fairly bad one), others who ate there liked it and when the hotel found out about it, we had the bill removed from our bill.  The service at the hotel was brilliant almost all the time, and when it was not, other than the night in Palio's it was still very good.  Eating at Quadro, which was the Compass Rose when we were there last was amazing.  Excellent, patient and understanding service, the like of which it is hard to find anywhere on the planet as the people there retained the warmth for which the Island is famous.  And the food there!  I lost my watch, and the cleaning lady who found it had seen us waiting to be picked up in the lobby and came and found us before we left (I do wish we had given her a bigger tip).  It is somewhere I do think that we will be returning to. While there we met up with some friends who had come over on holiday to see family.  We did not get to see much of the island as we did not think that the kids, being so young would appreciate it, and my wife and I had seen most things when we were there before.  So instead, they spent time in the pool.  Loads of time and gained more confidence in the pool.  On most days, around lunch in one of the pools, there is a 'Kids club' which the two took part in.  On the first day, it was not that inclusive, but there was a wide range of ages there and the older kids dominated things, but on the other days the two had charmed the young ladies who ran it and took part in the activities.

Anyway, time to go, as usual, take are all.  And I hope you like the jokes.

RIP Neil Armstrong. The man responsible for the United States' most unique achievement: planting the Stars and Stripes somewhere without having to kill anyone.

Police have reported that with further observation, it turns out the lion in Essex is just a snow leopard with a spray tan and hair extensions.

Apparently now Alex Song is leaving Arsenal as well.. This many people haven't left a London club since Chelsea fans moved to Man City

Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland & Wenger flogs Song as Arsenal firesale continues

Early morning all. Can not get to sleep so  I thought that I would make a post instead.  First of all, let me post about the match.  I was expecting a loss, even though Sunderland and O'Neill have not had many wins against us.  Is it just that I admire O'Neill, a man who got Celtic to the UEFA cup final.  It ended in a draw, and thanks to a glut of goals, we were relegated to last match of the night on Match of the Day, because let's face it, a 0-0 draw is not that exciting.  Unless you are an Arsenal fan.  Still, it was two points dropped, which would not have been too bad had Southampton managed to pull of a shock result.  Things could get even worse.  Theo is on the last year of his contact and has yet to sign another one.  Which means that we could be facing the loss of another player.

The kids have been good.  A hot weekend was one I did not get to spend with them properly as I was working.  But I was back in time yesterday to see the awards for the sunflowers.  Tim and Anna, a couple who live down the road organise a sunflower growing competition and the prizes were given out yesterday.  The kids did really well and were very proud of the awards they got for recognition of a good effort.

Anyway, time to go, good night all.

Fatman & Robin up front for United next season then

Well, it has happened.  My son had a nightmare.  Brave was scary in parts and as noted in my last post, I did think that it was a possiblity.  Mind you, I have had a nightmare.  Van Persie is leaving.  It could be worse, Arsenal have after all bought some more players in anticipation of him leaving, while last year we were screwed when we lost both Nasri and Fábregas without a replacement.  Still while he had a great season last year, after playing in Euro 2012, he is due a few injuries, so hopefully, this sale will not hurt us too much.

I HAVE NOT GOT A BIG BELLY

its a spare room for beer

When I was young, we were really poor. So poor, our mam would make us go throw stones at passing steam trains, hoping that an angry fireman would chuck a lump of coal back at us.

So, since my last post, my son has turned into a psycho.

Okay, not really.  My wife had taken the kids out and they were with some other kids and there was a game of tug of war.  A boy was winning against my daughter, so my son, who thought that he was being mean to his sister went up to have a fight to defend her.  He is four, the boy he took on was aged seven!  Needless to say, my wife managed to intervene before things actually got beyond pushing, but a fight was in the off!

Today we have taken the kids to watch Brave.  I have to say, I liked the film.  Unlike many Disney films, I think that it had a positive rolemodel, someone who takes action to change fate.  A message my daughter took on board.  She has been looking forward to the film for ages, and for her, it was worth the wait.  My son loved it as well, though he warmed to the triplets the most.

Anyway, the are in bed now, I just hope that they did not find that it gives them nightmares.

Tom Daley fans have been warned to tune into BBC next Saturday if they'd like to see some more diving when Manchester United return to action next week on Match of the Day.

Okay, it is not just ManUre, and no, it is not just the Italians.

We have had a great day today. Took the kids to the beach, a new experience for all of us, Felixstowe. There is a long beach there, at one end, there is free parking, and of course, that area is very crowded. By the time we got there, we could not find a parking space, so we parked near the pier. Although it did cost money, in some ways it was worth the £3.50 as we were in a part of the beach where there fewer people, which meant that the kids had more freedom when it came to digging in the sand. Of course they had to get wet in the sea first, something I got in trouble over as I forgot to get them to change first! On the topic of swimming, the kids may be swimming later this year. My wife took them for a drive to the garrison telling them that she was going to make them join the army. Well, she is going to sort of. She is going to sign them up to learn to swim there. The kids were VERY quiet on the way there! Anyway, afterwards, it was a trip to Flixton to the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. What we did not realise was that there was an event, one for the RAF where I got to see a Spitfire and a P51 flypast! Anyway, hope you are all well, and sorry for not posting since June.

I've just heard on the radio that Tom Cruise... Is Holmesless.

I don't blame Ashley Young for missing his penalty. It must have been confusing for him, taking a spot kick without diving first. 

Evening all.  Hope you all are well.
As you can tell, it has been a while since my last post.  Quite a few things have happened since my last post.

One of the things was the street party.  It was a day.  I was working for the first part of it, got back at the toast to Her Majesty was being said.  The kids ate lots, which came in useful for after a bit of time riding their bikes up and down the street, they were allowed to go on the bouncy castle.  As usual, I prefer not to name names on here but the couple who organised the party did one of the best jobs ever and they had organised a bouncy castle which the kids of the street loved.  Well, how are they not going to love it!  When I say an enjoyable day was had by all, it was.

And in addition to the street party, there was the birthday of my wife.  We took her down to London for a shopping experience and while she was shopping, I took the kids away on a London bus.  They loved it.  Both times, both going away from my wife and back again, they got to sit on the top deck at the front.  We had a great meal in London and overall, had a truly great time.

Anway, it is late now, have to go.

I typed 'Hell' instead of 'Hull' into my Sat-Nav.
I still got there.


I said to my wife, "Please get me a newspaper."
"Don't be silly," she replied, "you can borrow my iPad."
That spider never knew what hit it.

My boss texted me, "Send me one of your funny jokes Pete."
I replied, "I'm working at the moment, I will send you one later."
He replied, "That was fantastic, send me another one." 

I bumped into an old school friend today. He started showing off, talking about his well paid job and expensive sports car.

Then he pulled out a photo of his wife and said, "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
I said, "If you think she's gorgeous, you should see my girlfriend."
He said, "Why? Is she a stunner?"
I said, "No, she's an optician."

BNP don't make hoodies but if they did, they'd probably be white, baggy and have a point on the hood

I think that Britain is great.  I think that it can, and should be better.  Working together, we can make it so.  Listening to extremists leads to fear and hatred, which is what this nation does not need.  And due to this view I would make this post about the far right today to highlight the links between the far right and terrorism, and of course, the links between supporters of the far right and other crimes. 

I do not think that parties like the BNP should be banned, but I do think it is important that people know that the BNP are like, as well as the links between the far right and terrorism.  Of course, because of the tragic events in Norway, this is a big issue at present, but it has been a big issue for a while.  It is just that it is in the public eye again.

So, let me post about terrorists who have been associated with the far right in the UK.  Some of this has been taken from the Hope not Hate website, but I have expanded on the information that they have provided as the information they have is out of date.  In addition to which, I think that it is important to highlight the links of the far right to other crimes.  I am aware though that not all these criminals are linked to the BNP.  I am also aware that there are bad eggs in other political parties in the UK, each political party having ex-members who have convictions for violence and child abuse (or related crimes).  Other than Sinn Féin I do not really see any other political party in the UK having as many terrorists as the BNP.  Basically, I think it is important to publicise this, especially as the Far Right love to mention it when ethnic minorities, especially Muslims, are involved in crime.

• DAVID COPELAND – London nail bomber David Copeland brought havoc to London when he set off three nail bombs in 1999. He was a BNP member and activist in East London. He told police when questioned that he wanted to ignite a race war in Britain so that the white population would vote for a BNP government. Read more
• STEPHEN LENNON - convicted for football related violence, he is one of the founders of the EDL. 
• TONY LECOMBER was convicted and imprisoned for three years for five offences under the Explosives Act after he tried to blow up the offices of a political party. Police found hand grenades and detonators at his home. Despite this the BNP kept him on its payroll for over ten years. He was eventually forced out of his job after he approached Joe Owens to kill a leading politician.
• RODERICK ROWLEY - sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting to fourteen charges of making, distributing or possessing obscene images of children.  He was a BNP candidate in Coventry.
• ALLEN BOYCE and TERRY COLLINS In July 2006 Allen Boyce, a BNP supporter, received a two-year suspended sentence for providing Terry Collins, a BNP activist, with bomb making instructions. Collins himself was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in 2005 for conducting a racist terror campaign against the Asian community in Eastbourne. Read more 
• KARL HANSON - a BNP candidate found with heroin and crack cocaine before the election he stood for the BNP in 2005. 
• NEIL KEILTY - has a string of convictions dating back to 1987, including threatening behaviour, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. In 1994, Keilty, was sentenced to one year for his part in an attack on a pub in London. He has a long history of involvement with extreme Right-wing groups, such as the National Front and Friends of Oswald Mosley, and has twice been banned from football grounds for hooligan behaviour.  And guess what, yes, involved with the BNP as well.
• MARK BULMAN – arsonist Mark Bulman, a BNP activist, was jailed for five years in January after trying to set fire to Swindon’s Broad Street mosque. He used a BNP leaflet as a fuse for his petrol bomb. Read more 
• JOHN JONES - from the non-racist party that has nothing to do with Hitler, was found guilty of giving a Nazi salute.
• JOHN LAIDLAW - another member of the far right who claimed links to the BNP was arrested after a shooting spree where he targeted black men.
• JOE OWENS – gangland hitman For three years until summer 2004 Joe Owens acted as the personal bodyguard to Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, as well as being the Merseyside organiser of the BNP. However, Owens was also known locally as a gangland hitman, whom police had linked to several underworld murders. 
• ROBERT BENNETT - used by the BNP to hand out leaflets, he was convicted of the rape of two 17 year old girls and had to serve five years.  This being before he was used by the BNP to spread the message of hate.
•  ROBERT COTTAGE convicted for possession of explosives once again highlighted the link between BNP members and racial violence and terrorism. While the BNP moved quickly to distance itself from the actions of a man who stood in three local elections as a BNP candidate, he joins a growing list of BNP members who have engaged in some form of terrorist or murderous behaviour. Read more.
• NEIL LEWINGTON - picked up by the police for an offence unrelated to terrorism, he was found to have bomb making equipment in his home the intention to launch a terror campaign.  At his home, the police found extreme right-wing material, including videos of notorious racist or white-supremacist bombers.  No link to the BNP, but a member of the far right. 
• IAN HINDLE and ANDREW WELLS - both were BNP members and were convicted for getting two fourteen year old girls drunk to have sex with them.
• STEVEN BARKER - the killer of Baby P, also known as Peter Connelly.  He was a member of the far right.  And later he was also convicted for raping a baby girl.  Not a BNP member though.  

And of course, let us remember that Nick Griffin went to Libya to get funding, from the leader who sponsored the IRA.