London Riots

Driving down Camberwell Road I was shocked to see how many shops were boarded up, many peoples' businesses and living accomodation wrecked.

I have no time for the bleeding hearts who claim poverty had a part.It was not loaves of bread that were stolen .Carefully selected stores selling electrical goods, phones, trainers, sports goods and jewellery were targetted.

The fire raisers  kept the emergency services busy and attacked them while the hudlums and gangsters took control of the streets.

This must stop. Ordinary people cannot live in fear of one group in the community who lack self control and moral standards.

Magistrates and judges please give the harshest sentences you can.Stop the hand outs and let the looters and those who receive the stolen goods try a real dose of starvation.

Essentials List

Things I must do before midnight

• Make plum jam
• Clear cupboards for fitting of newly ordered washing machine (Bosch).Comet very helpful when making this purchase.
• Tackle ironing pile
• Cook dinner -chicken with bacon, side salad, fries and rhubarb and ginger crumble dessert
• Check Ocado order before 6pm
• Stop doing this blog

HSBC Secure Card Problems Resolved

Have got this card functioning at last.

It requires 8 separate and correctly answered steps before you can get into your online account every time you use it for anything.

Have a pencil and paper ready.

As soon as the new number appears on your secure card write it down fast. It disappears in seconds-- get part way through it as you put it online and you are completely stuffed if you cannnot remember it.

You may have to ask the nodding Chinese idiot woman a question online then.

London Riots

Use the water cannon and rubber bullets tonight please Mrs May.It all looks so bad my American cousins are asking me if I need refuge with them.

HSBC Secure Card Problems

It has taken me 24 hours to get into my account.Collected another card from my local branch.Note they made no security checks before handing it over. They failed to give me a new replacement code so more time  spent phoning India to get one.

HSBC have imposed this system on their customers regardless of whether they have the capacity to manage it. It is alleged that even blind customers have received them.

Hours of my time wasted on this.

HSBC Secure Card Disaster

This silly little card is a disaster.I am now locked out of my bank account. Hopeless for older people with arthritic fingers and short sight.

Lengthy phone call via the Indian subcontinent has failed to help.

Will visit local branch of HSBC tomorrow and insert it into someone

Orient Express Steam Day

Took a trip on an Orient Express Pullman service train from London to Bristol to celebrate a significant birthday.This was a train ride done the way things used to be with a steam engine and ultra comfortable coaches .A table for two with immaculate service for  brunch and dinner  were included in the ticket price.

Leaving Victoria station at 9 a.m. we ambled through the English countryside stopping to pick up water supplied by a fire engine .Passengers could get off and see this.Remembered what hard work it was seeing the stokers and fireman shoveling coal to build up steam.

Our destination was Bristol.Taken by coach on arrival  to see Brunel's suspension bridge and then a guided tour of his steam ship in dry dock, beautifully restored. Back to the train for the return journey to London to find our table ready with canapes and cold champagne, followed by a good dinner.If  like Grandpa you like  trains you will love this.

Tunstall village, Suffolk ~ watercolor demonstration

The Wizard of Oz

A brilliant show  at the London Palladium for Grandmas to visit with grandchildren.Witches fly round the auditiorium, snow flakes fall on the audience, the tornado is terrific and the music is hummable .Treat them to a pair of Ruby Slippersocks as a souvenir.

Danielle Hope has a nice voice and is sweet but  this Grandma first saw the film 65 years ago aged 5;there will never be a Dorothy as charismatic as Judy Garland again.

Full house when we were there,this is an experience children love, get them away from the TV and computer screen.

Cambridge Restaurant Midsummer House

This restaurant has 2 Michelin stars. Eating here is a lovely experience.The menu is served as a range of small quantities of utterly delicious dishes over about 6 courses to everyone at the table.Professional restaurant food- not home cooking.

Be careful with the array of wines-- better to choose one good bottle to enjoy throughout the meal than be overwhelmed by about 5 glasses .I saw one lady with her head in her hands unable to cope.

Check the price of the wines before choosing--champagne can be £ 350 per bottle.

Attention is paid to every tiny detail, perfect service.

http://www.midsummerhouse.co.uk/