Somebodys having a laugh !

1. Oil Price ? - Well I reckon somebody is having a laugh with the cost of Diesil for my car. Sad I know but when the cost of Oil rocketed recently I started to monitor the situation and compared with the price of fuel at the Pumps. I commented before that the government were taking the p**s because the higher the price went up the more they took in tax. As we pay 68% tax the amount they get is obviously more on a larger initial price so they could have cut the tax to motorists and still taken the same amount in actual money.
Anyway that not my complaint today but Oil has now come down on the World market. Well when it went up prices at the pumps went up at the same rate approximately so you would think when the World market dropped it would come down at the same rate, hell no so somebody is making a lot of money out of this.
Here are the figures - Oil peaked on the World market about 2 weeks ago at around $146 per barrel at that time the price at the pumps of filling stations near me were £1.31 per litre. Now since then Oil as dropped to about £128 per barrel a decrease of over 12%. Yet prices at the pumps have only dropped 5 pence to £1.26 a decrease of less than 4%.
If Oil had decreased the same way it went up we should be paying around £1.15 per litre.

2. Supermarket trip - Yesterday I had a couple of "run ins" at the supermarket. First was actually in the shop, I didn't need too much so I took a hand basket and got the items I wanted. When I got to the check outs I made my way to the "Hand Baskets" only till but as I arrived a women came flying in front of me with a Trolley basket and proceeded to put her shopping on the conveyor.
I thought about saying nothing but decided to point out the sign that said "Hand Baskets Only", the women started hurling abuse saying she had less than 10 items. I pointed out thats the rule in Tesco but we are in Morrisons and the sign clearly states "Hand Baskets Only". I was a bit disgusted none of the staff said anything and they actually served her. I think they just did it for a quiet life as she was really wound up. I just don't like ignorant people the rules are there for a reason, if she wanted serving quick and didn't have much stuff then she should have used a hand basket like everyone else in that queue.
Anyway that wasn't the only argument I got on that trip, as I walked out to cross the car park to my car I almost got run over by a bloke flying around dangerously in my opinion. He then wound me up by blasting his horn at me to which I pointed to the Zebra Crossing I was stood on. For those that don't know British law the pedestrian has right of way on a Zebra crossing. We exchanged a few choice words but he drove away when he saw I wasn't gonna back down, why should I when I was in the right.

3. American Hooligans - I see America as finally arrived in the World of Football (soccer) as news reports suggest a clash between English Supporters of West Ham and fans of Columbus Crew.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2439908/West-Ham-fans-brawl-with-Columbus-Crew-as-football-hooliganism-hits-the-US.html

Had to laugh when I saw the videos on Youtube its more handbags at six paces been totally blown out of all proportion by the press.

4. Comedy - Just thought I'd do a comedy section of my post, my generation as been lucky to have lived through eras of fantastic sit coms on British TV so I reckon I'll show a clip and tell you all a bit about various one's each week for my blog friends to have a laugh at. Ok some of these clips are old but are quality. I'll start with one that everyone puts near the top of their list and start with "Only Fools and Horses" :-

"Only Fools' proved that you can set a show in a scruffy, violent working class Peckham Council Estate without getting all Ken Loach about it. It made cockneys out of everyone born within earshot of BBC1. And put Peckham on the map".
"'Only Fools' gave the world Derek Edward Trotter, the fast-talking, quick thinking whirlwind at the centre of the show who stirs up clouds of cash, sambuca, dodgy Russian video cameras and affection wherever he turns. A fool worthy of Dickens or Shakespeare".
"And it gave us Rodney Charlton Trotter, the ultimate sidekick, straight man and annoying kid brother. The voice of reason, yin to Del's yang. Two GCE's and not an ounce of sense".
"The show is chock full of family values, practical morality and workaday virtues. Family and friends, loyalty and decency, curry and chips. It handles the heavy stuff - thwarted dreams, miscarriage and even death. But can still turn this unpromising material into comedy gold sometimes in a single sentence".
"The show and the characters have grown with the audience in real time. Del's got older, milder, then richer. Rodders has grown some sense and jowls. And it's all 'real', not padding"!
"It has the single best sight gag on telly - Del falling through the bar, and the second best - the chandelier falling down".

Think I've gotta show both them clips (but there was so many more classics) :-

"Don't F**k with the Baldies"

1. Haircut - On Friday I was at a wedding evening do of a friend in York, during the day I played Golf with another friend who had come up for the do from Sheffield. Anyway following the Golf I went home to get ready and decided to give myself a quick haircut.
For some time now I've give myself a low maintenance cut using a pair of shears usually with a number one or two attachment. Anyway Friday when I took the first cut I suddenly realised I hadn't fitted a attachment, yes right down to the bone. Well there was nothing else I could do but continue so now I'm a complete bone head, what a plonker.

2. Cars - I was reading in the papers this week a list of the 10 worst British Cars of all time. Of no surprise to me was bang at the top of the list was the Austin Allegro. I can vouch for that one cos I once had one and it was crap, I had so many problems with that car even once the wheel nuts sheared and left on three.
I was dissapointed that in 2nd place was the Morris Ital cos I've also had one of them and I actually liked that car always thought it looked classy. Come to think of it though all my friends hated travelling in it cos the suspension was strange.
Obviously these where many years ago but neither was my first car that was a Vauxall Viva, loved that car never let me down.
What was your first car ?

3. Music Choice - The Doors with Light my fire

Is the World split in two ?

1. Zimbabwe - When it comes to world politics is the World split in two ? Last week we had the UN security sanctions vote against the Zimbabwe government getting vetoed which to me was quite disgusting. Mugabe's regime that has just sabotaged an election needs the world to stand shoulder to shoulder against them.
However the usual five candidates blocked the vote for sanctions led by the likes of Russia, China, Libya, South Africa & Vietnam(no surprise with any of these). To me its about time the Western world stopped trading with these such countries and just stuck together as one, I know who would be better off.

2. Knife Crime - I'm reading a lot in the newspapers lately about the increase in violent crime in our Cities and especially the use of knives among teens. Now I was totally amused with the governments solution to this they are suggesting people caught carrying knives will be made to visit victims in hospital.
Personally I've another suggestion "Put them in f****g Jail" and make the jails a little tougher and not like holiday camps. In high crime areas give police scanners with stop & search powers its not brain surgery.

3. Irritable People - Do you have anyone that your paths cross each week that really irritates you ? I've one such person in mind and he is really getting on my nerves he's such a sarcastic prat. So far I've bit my tongue but I think its a choice between trying to ignore him completely or tell him straight what I think about him.

4. Music Choice - "Its too Late" by Derek & the Dominoes

The people are fooled/robbed again

1. Road Tax - The Government have fooled/robbed the people they are supposed to represent by putting up the road tax by astronomical amounts. Ok this depends on the size of your vehicle and its emmisions. The excuse is that it is a Green Tax in the fight against Global Warming. I could nearly support it in some ways if I believed it was going to be ploughed back in to the environment.
However I would say it is a Mean Tax because everyone was mislead about what was going to happen due to lies by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Ok I can understand the idea of this tax but for people buying new vehicles from now. People caught out and stuck with the wrong type of vehicle have been hit with a double wammy because they either pay the tax or sell their vehicle and of course the 2nd hand value as plummeted overnight, they can't win.
Lets remember we are also getting screwed by the highest fuel duties in the world, the country is truly been destroyed by these numpty's trying to run it.

2. America Again - Yep I've another holiday sorted, I travel to Chicago on 25th August for 3 nights then onto Houston for 5 more nights. Its then on to New Orleans where I'll spend 7 more nights before returning to England on the evening og september 9th.
Houston & New Orleans are places I haven't been before and while I'm in the other there is the "Texas Music Festival" on for 3 of the days.

3. Music Choice - Well for todays choice I've gone for a song I really like its "Will You" by Hazel O'Conner -

Selling your Soul to the Devil

1. Harry Kewell - A lot of my readers may wonder what the title of this post is about but I feel I've got to slag off that low life of a footballer Harry Kewell. He was brought over as a youngster from his native Australia and developed by my Club Leeds United into an international Footballer. Now when Leeds went bankrupt he had to 5 years ago he had to be sold on, the fans understood but unlike others at the the time Kewell refused to go unless he got a £2million pay off from Leeds (plus £2million sign on from Liverpool) showing the only thing that mattered to him. Leeds had to release him and despite been in dire straights got very little from the deal, bearing in mind he'd missed a lot of the previous season with injury and Leeds continued to pay him.
Anyway that lack of loyalty p****d off a lot of people but it is insignificant compared to what he has just done. Kewell was part of the Leeds team that played Galaterasary in 2000 when two of our fans were murdered, a crime that will never be forgot by everyone associated. What made matters worse at the time Uefa wouldn't cancel the match as Leeds requested and Galaterasary refused to have a minutes silence or wear black armbands.
So what has Kewell done other than sign for Galaterasary, he must be lower than a snakes belly, I can't believe anyone involved that night could sign for a Club like that when you think when he scores it will be the supporters that carried out the atrocities that he will salute. He is in many peoples eyes dancing on the graves of the lads that died.
To say he will never be welcome back to the city of Leeds again is an understatement, he'd probably find himself hanging for a lamp post. It wasn't that he needed to go there quite a few other Clubs were trying to sign him.
The man is a complete disgrace to his proffesion, one greedy son of a bitch.

2. Night Out - To change the subject I was out with a lot of ex work-mates on Friday night, about 15 of us toured a few pubs in York. It was a fun night and we all had a good laugh. I was a bit dissapointed as I wanted to stay longer in the first Pub, they had a group on and it looked like they were gonna play a lot of 70's & 80's cover versions. They warmed up with The Jams "A Town called Malice" & the Martha and the Muffins "Echo Beach". Anyway I got out voted so we all moved on.
At one stage of the night we accidently gate-crashed a wedding party, the had booked a private room at one of the bars but not realising we all wandered in. It turned out I knew one of the guests and we got allowed to stay for a bit.

3. Weight Loss - Some good news on this front, On the night out mentioned I was able to go in a pair of trousers that previously were too tight, thats good news I think.

4. Music Choice - Well back to where I started with todays choice, Harry Kewell this is for you its The Clash with "Straight to Hell" -

Don't be Fooled

1. MP's Pay Rise - I see today that our government representitives have voted to only take a lees than inflation 2.5% pay rise as an example to the rest of the population as the country's financial woes continue. I would like to say great MP's actually doing something for others but sorry I can't cos they have also decided that they can screw us all with their expenses. How on ever can you claim a Plasma Screen TV, get you TV licence, car insurance, tax, groceries, clothes, etc paid for on expenses. Not on a bad thing are they.

2. Tennis - I'll just mention the Tennis cos Wimbledon is on, the Womens final is decided and it will be predictably between the Williams sisters not that I've anything against them but I find them playing each other boring. The mens event is at the semi stage but its hard to imagine anything other than a Federer v Nadal Final and I'm looking forward to that they are a class better than anything else about.

3. Weight Loss - I've been eating more or less to plan although exercise as been below plan due to a couple of aches & pains. However I'm fighting fit now and I've just started TT training in preparation for next season. I trained two hours last night & this morning I did another session with a different player. It was hard work and I lost a bit of sweat, I feel tired now but I've another session planned Monday. I'm also hoping to get a couple of long walks over the weekend although the weather forcast isn't too promising.

4. Music Choice - For todays choice we're going for a gritty punk cover version of the Dionne Warwick classic "Walk on By" played by The Stranglers.

This Weekend

1. Tennis - We are at the middle weekend of Wimbledon and as usual most of the Brits haven't made it to the 2nd week. In fact we have only one player left in the competition thats Andy Murray. Could he go all the way, I doubt it think it'll be a Federer v Nadal final again but I've a feeling the Spanish player may just do it this time.
More surprising than our players getting beat is the fact that the Americans have no men reaching the 2nd week. Long gone are the days of Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, etc. Whay has happend to American tennis ?
Of course the ladies its slightly different with the Williams sisters looking likely winners. A lot of the top seeds have gone and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of them reach the final. To be honest I hope they don't, not that I've got anything against them I just can't stand their Father, when he's interviewed he comes over as such a big head.

2. Football - We've reached the final of the European Championships and on Sunday Spain will face the Germans. It should be no contest on form Spain have looked really good where the Germ,ans have been so lucky to reach the final. However you can never count the Germans out, they have a knack of winning competitions when playing badly.

The English FA have come up with a classic way of improving the game over here. They are banning under 8's from playing competitive matches so they only work on skills. Well a load of poppycock as far as I'm concerned life is about been competitive whether passing exams, driving test, getting a job, basically everything. Kids have to learn about the ups & downs in life and sport is a great way of doing it.
Apparently Wales & Northern Ireland have had this policy for a number of years and I can't think they have set the Footie world on fire.

3. Nelson Mandela - Well he is celebrating his 90th Birthday but I don't know if its only me but I can't respect this man. Everyone makes such a fuss like he's some sort of Martin Luther King. Yes sure he played a big part in ending apathaid in South Africa but this is the bloke who was jailed for terrorism. This was the bloke who led the ANC in a bombing campaign, he was rightly jailed in my opinion. Strange now most of our countries are fighting terrorism around the world, perhaps one day Osama Bin Laden will be president of Afganistan and get the Noble Peace Prize.
I'll also mention that Mandela as done absolutely nothing about his mate Mugabe carrying out atrocities in neighbouring Zimbabwe, South Africa could do something about it if they wished, its about time somebody did.

4. Music Choice - Well from the Who's rock opera "Tommy" came the classic song "Pinball Wizzard" which was actually performed by Elton John in the Film.

Raring to Go

1. Training - Tonight I'm gonna resume Table Tennis training as I'm raring to go. My Elbow although still swollen is on the mend its not painfull so I need to get in training. Obviously I'll have to be a bit careful not to agravate it but I'm optimistic it will be ok. Of course it'll do my fitness good, I'm hoping to put a lot of work in this summer, I'm planning a good season.
I'm building up for my first tournament in late August in Halifax, its a veterans tournament and the standard is usually very high.

2. Weight Loss - I think I'm maintaining so far this summer, to be honest lack of exercise has been my big negative. I've eaten more or less to plan so if I can now up the exercise I'm sure I'll start to dump a few pounds.

3. Holidays - I was looking at maybe taking a trip somewhere in early September but at present flight prices are sky high, think its to do with the Oil price. However I'm checking and if I can find a deal I'll take a trip I'm sure.

4. Smoking - Our Government have come up with another classic, they are going to give people money to stop smoking as its a burdon on the health service. They are only experimenting and just going to trial it in Dundee (surprisingly thats where our Prime Mnister Gordon Brown is from).
What do I think of giving my money that I've paid in tax to people if they promise to stop smoking is another example of how stupid the people running the country are.

5. Music Choice - We'll have some classic Beatles today with "Long and winding road", superb song.

Skint

1. Car - I reported earlier in the week that I had a new rear tyre fitted on my car cos I got a nail in the side wall. Well today my Car went in for its service (change oil, filters, etc) & its Mot which wasn't cheap but budgeted for so its ok.
The good news was that it passed the MOT with no extra cost, now there is a first. However they did point out that both my front tyres tread is wearing down, still in the legal limits but within the next 6 month I'll need new tyres expense I could do without.
Another expense is my Car tax is due by the end of this month, gee there is no end to paying out.

2. Further Spending - This week I've bought a new vacuum cleaner cos mine was on its last legs, I'm impressed with the new one, its very powerful but you can adjust the suction for different carpets. I fell lucky cos I got it half price at Argos, I reckon a good buy.
Yesterday I also bought a new lawn mower, just used it today and its done a good job my lawn looks good, my old one had well passed its sell by date, it didn't owe me anything.

3. Nights Out - I've a few big night outs coming up which I'm sure to spend plenty of money, next Friday I'm out with a few of the lads. The following Friday its out with the old work gang, so some of the ladies informed me today.
Then in the middle of July I've a friends wedding to attend, its one of the people I plat Table Tennis with.

4. Banking - Well I reckon my credit card is getting a bit of stick at present, I'll have to maybe transfer money out of my savings accounts to pay it off.
I'm thinking of going to "Internet Banking" with my accounts so I can transfer money without going into town. Also some of the internet only accounts offer better rates of interest, I've been reading up on it. Does anyone use Internet Banking ? just wondered.

5. Music Choice - For today's song I thought I'd pick a video that reminds me of my school days (I wish), so here is Hot Gossip with "Walk on the Wild Side", same uniform girls at our school wore if I remember correctly.

European Championships

Footie - For all of you that don't know the European Football Championships have been taking place in Switzerland & Austria over the last couple of weeks. This tournament is 2nd only to the World Cup and you may ask why I haven't been posting about it, the answer is simple England f****d up and didn't even qualify.
Anyway tonight its reached the last eight and it becomes a knock out competition from here so I thought I'd give my expert (lol) opinion on the outcome.
Germany v Portugal - Despite Portugal looking good I'm hoping Germany (and I don't say that often) win this one. Why because Portugal have that little shite Cristiano Ronaldo the biggest cheat, poser, cry baby, etc in world soccer and a Scum player as well. Some people reckon he is the best player in the world not me though but you judge for yourself -

Croatia v Turkey - Gotta support Croatia in this one mainly because I just hate Turks (Leeds fans do, murdering b*****s) they shouldn't even be in a European tournament, Istanbul is in asia. Croatia is a newish nation and I love their attitude, total patriots every player runs themselves into the ground for the cause and their fans with their passion are something else. Always rated their manager Bilic when he played in the English league good no nonsence centre half.

Holland v Russia - Its hard to argue against Holland been the team of the tournament so far and their supporters have travelled in large numbers but look so stupid in orange tango suits. I watched Russia beat Sweden last night to reach this stage and they were impressive, just all out attack, a young squad I reckon will have to be watched in the next World Cup.

Maybe Holland will have too much quality for them but one thing about Holland is there history shows they self destruct in major tournaments, too many players with big egos spend a few weeks in a hotel together and they start to fall out with each other.

So I'm supporting Russia in this one well they do play in white.

Spain v Italy - Along with Holland, Spain have looked excellent with their fast passing game and in contrast Italy have struggled to reach this stage. Howver Spain have flattered before only to crash out they remind me of England everyone expects them to win but they fall short. However in the past Spain have had great attacking options but always looked dodgy at the back. From what I've seen they have toughend up and are much harder to beat.

Saying all that I'm going for Italy because history say's if the Italians start a tournament badly, sneak through they go on to win it just look at the last world cup. I think a lot depends if Luca Toni finds his shooting boots this player get himself in great positions but misses too many, I've a feeling like his side he'll come good when it matters.