Kirschkernweitspuckwettbewerb

Back by popular demand is the annual cherry stone spitting contest with a freestyle round.

It's important to choose the correct cherries - here's a pair of Frauensteiner Susskirschen with an umlaut on the first u

Some people can do this with their tongues.

 The maestro at work

Didn't we Have a Luverly Time on the Way to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

You can see my exclusive video production made with failing and unproven machinery lashed up minutes prior to the beginning of the expedition to visit the 90th anniversary celebration of BMW Motorrad.  The onboard video camera wasn't too bright either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRZED9TpUl8

The snaps are here---->  ******SNAPS******

Hello David Spiegelhalter

On 12th April 2013 at 10:30 I booked a series of flights from Manchester (England) to Weeze (Germany) for a long weekend visit to Mrs N on location leaving on 20th June and flying via Edinburgh on a slightly round the houses route so that I would arrive close to Kleve (neer Weeze).

On 18th June I heard a radio programme where David Spiegelhalter was discussing micro morts, unlikely events and coincidences. Interesting I thought, 6 miles on a motorcycle  = 2000 miles in a plane or 1 cup of Ryanair tea...1 micromort.

On 20th June at Edinburgh airport  I sat down at gate 19 next to a couple who were busy minding their own business. Strange, I thought, I recognise them from photographs on a blog that I have enjoyed following for some years:  I say  "You Sonja and Roland me Nikos".

Eventually, when Sonja picked herself up off the floor we flew together to Weeze in our prebooked seats next to each other!

Some time later:-

I am very kindly offered a lift in a rather nice Audi and Mrs N is revealed at work.

Some time later still:-

No reflection on the company - I have super fast reacting eyelids!

It was great to meet such nice people! 

A somewhat better account can be found here. And I forgot to do the lottery.

Visit Oxford Photo Competition

Spot the leaping deer:

Spot the Andrew Gormley:

In other places up North spot the Boeing Dreamliner:

Sorry that the nose got cut off but hard to hold camera at 20X zoom.

The stuffed Tatton deer:

Mrs N's meatballs in egg and lemon sauce:

Haggis is for Pooves and Canal Action

Further to recent feedback from fellow blogster Jon El Diente of River Thames fame, I thought it proper to show food that the NW team sampled during our recent sojourn in Greece at Orthodox Easter time.

This is a soup made from putrified goat entrails

This is barbequed goat entrails wrapped around a skewer

This is barbequed goat entrails made to look palatable.

The Greeks have a word for barbequed goat entrails and it is κοκορέτσι (lit.: haggis is for pooves).

Preserved cockroaches and olives

Something foraged from a mountainside garnished with goat dung.

Putrified goat dung crunch dessert

In other news:

Within 30s of arriving at the Eagles Nest the cats arrived....

The local shepherdess has bought some new rather fetching pantaloons don't you agree?

Here is a recommended pit stop when returning to Athens just down from the National highway, a placed called Isthmus where the Corinth Canal feeds into the Argo Saronic Gulf.  This is the first time that we have seen a ship pass and that quaint little sinking bridge sink!

Greek Easter in Greece and James May's favourite Car + Insects and Creepy Crawlies Blog Spectacular Feature only for you. Part 1.

One of the benefits I receive as a failed and near geriatric international businessman is the exotic machinery that I receive as rental cars as  a Holiday Autos Preferred customer.  Luckily Mrs N arranged the car rental this year and picked me up at Athens Airport in a Fiat Panda. James May (Top Gear presenter a.k.a Captain Slow) an avid Panda fan states "The one I use the most is my Fiat Panda. If I could have only one [car], I would say my Fiat Panda, though I also have a Porsche 911 and a Rolls-Royce."

Mrs N figuring out where the starting handle is or is it the boot release?

As it is now late we stay at the Holiday Inn next to a petrol station and are entertained by Boris Johnson (Mayor of London) speaking French.

Fantastic view from the hotel window of the spectacular  Mount Hymettus where in  antiquity there was a sanctuary to Zeus Ombrios (Zeus the Rain God)

Fantastic view on the hotel TV of the spectacular clown Boris Johnson Mayor of London speaking French

The next morning we head off under blue skies and a fair wind to Πελοπόννησος.

We drive on the Αττική Οδός passing through the new Arc d'Austerity - a touching tribute to Angela Merkel who will be sending Tornado fighter bombers over to Greece soon with dispensing cannisters stuffed with €50 bank notes

 Soon at Argos we stop at Lidl to load up with essential cat food provisions for the coming week.

Grim discovery that a Lidl shopping trolley is bigger than a Fiat Panda

We arrive at the village.

We are greeted by the cheese maker George who in a former life worked as an RAC patrolman on the A33 Winchester bypass.

Mrs N's village house has been overwhelmened by a giant spider

In the next episode candles are burnt at all ends and I discover a scorpion familly in the cellar.

Could Michael Fish organise an ACU Certified Hill Climb Event on Anglesey?

I give up, could he?

What is certain is that the ever optimistic Frank Melling's weather forecast was roughly accurate (except for the timing).  My photographic apparatus did not adapt well to driving rain, sea fog and cavalcading.

 

For a proper description of Thundersprint 2013 please read Richard's excellent report ----> HERE

A video may appear here sometime soon, but whilst we are waiting this is Thundersprint last year in sunny Northwich !----->HERE


The 2013 Version is here!-------->CLICk ME