http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php en Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:26:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/red2/misc/rss.jpg http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=229 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:31:48 GMT Old Shire Vintage from Morrisons.

It's a creamy looking stunner in a verdant green wax jacket.

It's so nice that I've been defending it for days. A small bite gives waves of tantalising taste for about thirty seconds. The aftertaste makes you go hmmm.

If you like a proper powerful kick ass cheese with a good hard poke of flavour, this is your cheese. The texture is simply dreamy.

Second ony to the vintage cave aged cheddar from Cheddar.

y:1 Hello George. :D xxx ]]> NiNjiiN http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=229 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=227 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:39:12 GMT A note to employers:

If you treat your STAFF like shit...and then you treat your CUSTOMERS like shit as well....don't complain when your customers leave you in droves.

Luckily, my own employer doesn't do this. But I know one that does. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=227 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=226 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:27:53 GMT Today was quite interesting. Almost got excited when I saw I had 2 stars in BC, wasn't sure what that meant but thought it looked good. Then I spotted that johnboy had 4 stars and Calidore had something that looked like a diamond but could have been a chicken nugget. ]]> Alice http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=226 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=225 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:36:03 GMT So here we are - 2010 - the year that will go down in history as the year Nu Lab got annihilated at the polls. Just as 1997 did for the Tories.

Finally after 12 years of this government that hates everything Brirish, we'll get a government that puts Britain, enterprise and hard work above lazy, foreign loafers.

:k9 ]]> Equinox http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=225 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=224 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:45:58 GMT I have to go back to work on Tuesday 5th, and for the first time in this job, I am dreading it.

My manager doesn't like me and the job I am being asked to do has turened into a "call centre" type role, with you being timed in the toilet etc. I'd never have taken a job like that (and my salary is too much for such a job).

I am also under instruction NOT to use many of the technical skills I was brought in for (and am paid for), because it's "not my job".

I am of the belief - if you don't like a job, stop doing it. So that's my plan. Obviously I can't be so frivolous as to leave without a new job, but I no longer give a shit what they do - I am leaving.

At the same time, I am also going to finally Manchester, the shite city I currently live in, and move further south.

None of this can really happen until late spring, but it will probably take at least that long to get a new job anyhow. But the decision is made - I am on the move! ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=224 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=223 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:33:34 GMT I have decided to go for some "2010" graphics in the header once more to commemorate the new year.

I think we last did this in 2007, don't think it was done in 2008 or 2009, though to be honest I can't quite remember.

Anyway, this is no mean feat, as they have to be colour coded to match the style they are being used in.

Also this year we got all the header changes ready so I was able to switch from the "Christmas" header back to the standard one (but with 2010 graphic) at one minute past midnight.

And away we go for another year...amazingly BC's 9th year of operation as a forum.

Happy New Year! ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=223 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=222 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:39:38 GMT It's new years eve and although I am away seeing friends(!) I will not be drinking a drop as I my amazing driving skills are required. :s3 ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=222 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=221 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:06:45 GMT My attempts to install Windows 7 have run into catastrophic issues.

Having managed to get a very poor installation of it working (slow boot times, frequent crashes, etc), I have ended up flattening the disk entirely. However, it now won't install at all, hanging and/or crashing at various different points. At one point it also refused to format the disk after partitioning.

In desperation I have tried to install Windows XP with a view to running the Windows 7 disc from within there, but three attempts at this also fail, it installs but won't boot due to corrupt files.

My old Windows Vista disc also won't install, with similar errors.

I am now running a CHKDSK from within the XP recovery console, as I seriously suspect the hard drive is buggered, though quite how this could have occurred I have no idea.

Embarrassingly I may have to take it to a computer repair shop next week, but I really do think that if three different OS's refuse to install with random disk errors, it's got to be the hard disk. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=221 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=220 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:38:16 GMT I am considering trying to stop being a curmudgeonly luddite and investing in a games console. :o

I have decided that it needs to be either a Wii or an X-Box.

What sort of price am I look at, which should I go for, and what is the £130 "cut down" X Box that is being advertised? ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=220 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=219 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:55:33 GMT A lesson in how NOT to encourage use of public transport.

I just decided to check what the train prices would be like for a long journey I'd like to make. After all, we're meant to be encouraging people to leave the car at home, so it should be cheaper, right?

Wrong! For a journey that will cost me around £50 for the entire journey and the return, I would be paying minimum £118 for a return train ticket. I even looked at the cost of two singles, but it's the same.

Complete and utter waste of space! I'll stick to the car thanks. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=219 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=218 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:40:36 GMT Well waddya know? I didn't do anything today either, apart from get my washing done for the week ahead. How tedious. :coffee:

I've also been drinking a touch of vodka and diet lemonade, though not enough to be pissed. How boring. :head: ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=218 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=217 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:13:48 GMT It's Christmas Day, an exciting time because we are almost at the point where we can kick the Nu-Lab corruption out of government once and for all.

Some people talk of the idea that brown is not finished. He's more finished than Major was in 1996/1997. A massive Tory landslide is unstoppable, and with it can begin the restoration of this country.

z:1 ]]> Equinox http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=217 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=216 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:25:21 GMT Well....what to do?

The forum's been surprisingly active, the past few Christmases not a great deal has happened.

I have to think of something to do to amuse myself until the Doctor Who Christmas Special at 6pm. I'm not doing a Christmas dinner, not much point doing it for one, and anyway I had one the other day. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=216 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=215 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:32:47 GMT I learned that an epiglotis looks like a wiggly finger, and tonsils don't look like man fruits.

X-mas has provided me with an veritable hillock of different cheeses, including Bowland.

Merry happy joy stuff and things.

Hello George. y:1 xxx ]]> NiNjiiN http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=215 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=214 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:27:00 GMT It's Christmas Eve!

Sadly for many, particularly those who live on our own, Christmas can be a difficult time. Christmas is geared towards families, and when you don't have one it can get tough seeing everyone going out and having fun and knowing you can't actually do that.

But then again, sitting in my nice warm house is I suppose preferable to heading out into the freezing cold, getting drunk and then staggering back home to discover the entire evening cost the best part of £100. :irked:

People call us sad. But we're not sad. I can't even say we're victims of circumstance, because I don't consider myself a victim. This is the way life is for me, it's just that, once a year at least, it does feel like I'm a bit of a sad case. :(

So, here I am. Happy Christmas to anyone else in the same boat of me, for whatever reason. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=214 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=213 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:43:52 GMT Actually got sent home from work today around lunch time due to the awful weather. It snowed from about 9am through to lunchtime and it was getting a bit dicey, so they started sending us home, but many of us could not get our cars out of the car park! A bit of help from some... Actually got sent home from work today around lunch time due to the awful weather. It snowed from about 9am through to lunchtime and it was getting a bit dicey, so they started sending us home, but many of us could not get our cars out of the car park!

A bit of help from some nice warehouse people with shovels and grit etc and I managed to get out. The company were not happy about the whole situation and initially insisted they "had a business to run" and would not be letting anyone go early, but I think the HR people put them right on that. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=213 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=212 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:53:48 GMT Had to chuckle at this picture of a really hard cat taken by a reader of the BBC News website.



Snow? Pah! I speet on your snow!

That is one hard cat.

My orange cat would probably be like that, but at the moment he is having to lie on my bed, just in case there any gazelles or gnats underneath it that may need dealing with. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=212 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=211 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:59:36 GMT Back to work again tomorrow (well, later today), I intend not doing a great deal as it'll be quiet this week in the run up to Christmas. Then after Thursday I have about ten days off. Not before time either.

I am not going anywhere over Christmas so will probably be in the forums! ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=211 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=210 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:18:17 GMT Fancied a change today and did my shopping in ASDA...there isn't one near me but there is one near my work.

Haven't been in for a while but I was quite pleasantly surprised, some quite good offers at the moment as well. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=210 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=209 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:40:15 GMT Well it's back to work for me tomorrow, sadly....after a nice few days off doing not much of note.

I am back Thursday and Friday, then next week I am in Monday to Thursday (24th Dec). I then don't return until Tuesday 5th January. Although some of my colleagues will be in as they didn't save enough holiday up to cover Christmas. Luckily we only need a skelton staff over Christmas and New Year week, I could never do it as I'm not thin enough to pass for a skeleton. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=209 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=208 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:32:01 GMT I normally love my local market cheese stall but they just went too far about three weeks ago.

I'm partial to their extra mature cheese but I thought I'd have a change and go for their Tasty cheddar instead. I was standing about half a pace from the counter when a tiny old woman squeezed in front of me. I was a bit miffed but decided to let her get away with it. As a result I waited a considerable amount of time before being served.

When the cheese wench finally asked me what I wanted she was in a bit of a state. She was sweaty and wearing a fixed plastic smile. I said 'Could I have some of your Tasty cheddar please?' and she walked off. I should've realised the danger I was in when she whirled away half way through my request. She returned with what looked like the cheese I wanted and cut me a piece. I left wondering why it seemed a bit cheaper than normal but I hurried off, glad to be away.

When I returned home I decided to have some of my yummy cheese. Imagine my horror when I cut into it and it was softer than it should be! It was Tasty Lancashire, not Tasty cheddar! THE HORROR! The evil cheese wench hadn't listened beyond the word Tasty. EEEEVIL CHEESE WENCH!

Now don't get me wrong, I like normal Lancashire. It's mild flavour and unusual crumbly nature are things I can appreciate. It cooks well and doesn't go rubbery. Tasty Lancashire is a different creature entirely. It's very popular but I can't stand it. Do you hear me evil cheese wench? I CAN'T STAND IT! The zingy flavour seems awfully artificial and makes me pull a face because my tongue cries. :snivel:

I've calmed down now, but it was a terrible traumatic experience and I shall never forget it. I'm still having nightmares about the evil cheese wench and her scary plastic smile...

So folks, keep a careful eye on your cheese at all times.

Hello George. y:1 xxx ]]> NiNjiiN http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=208 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=207 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:04:10 GMT Has anyone seen this website? Oldhamcouncil.com (http://www.oldhamcouncil.com) This guy has some really good points, until he starts attacking Saddleworth!!! So I would like to correct a few of his statements, and before anyone says- typical Saddleworther, I was... Has anyone seen this website? Oldhamcouncil.com

This guy has some really good points, until he starts attacking Saddleworth!!!

So I would like to correct a few of his statements, and before anyone says- typical Saddleworther, I was originally from Shaw!!

Wind farms
Yea wind farms should be built on the moors, but not right on our doorstep as the proposal went! I’m sure if they wanted to build them within spitting distance of your front door you would have an objection,

Building
The objection to building well what can I say!! Its fine building houses, there are plenty of sites that can be cleared for rebuilding in saddleworth, however OMBC seem to prefer selling off areas of greenbelt to preferred developers (no names mentioned but one has its name on the local police cars!!) at a discounted price.
Affordable housing?? No actually, these new builds are ridiculously priced, far out of reach of the majority of locals and Oldhamers. And where does this money from the land sale go? Well that’s what we want to know!! Certainly not back into saddleworth!

Perfect roads
Where!
Saddleworth has “Officially ” got the worst Neglected road surfaces in the OMBC! In fact OMBC has failed to maintain the roads in this area to such an extent, it has had to approach the government for a hand out to carry out the necessary repairs to roads and highway retaining walls, £19m of which they have already started to misspend in my view (a certain market for a certain culture in Oldham) lets see how far this money goes!!!

Council Tax
£1000 average!!!!! I wish!!
This is where he really starts to lose the plot!! Actually Saddleworth pays the highest council tax in the area, you can check this on OMBC website!! And the average is £1500 mine is around £1700! And yes Oldham central has more houses, but not more payers, poverty in Oldham means over 50% of Oldham receives CT discounts of some form through no fault of there own, its hard in this day to meet the high taxes this government forces upon us all, however in OMBC case, it takes the money but does not dispatch the good! Which brings me to the next point-

Gritting
We have been told that- quote-if we want a road to be cleared and gritted we have to request it! WTF!!! Sorry but I thought this was included in our council tax / road tax etc.
Lets compare this, how would Oldham feel if roads such as, say- Rochdale road @ Royton, Shaw road @ Higinshaw, Manchester road @ Oldham etc etc, in fact the main roads you need to be clear to get to work! Where left impassable?? Well this is what we got in the last snowfall!! Denshaw- not cleared / gritted, Uppermill- not cleared / gritted, Diggle - not cleared / gritted, etc etc, and I’m not talking about side roads! No these are main roads, infact main routs from Huddersfield and Halifax!! Roads that people from Oldham use!



Tourists and tourist spots
What the hell is he on about here!! There are several attractions here but not to everyone’s taste, yes there are so called attractions that even I find a little, dare I say Boring!! But its not costing Oldham anything, no actually OMBC make a fortune from parking charges at Dovstones, last time I was there, I counted five traffic wardens booking people for not parking correctly! Same around Upermill and Delph.
It’s also popular for that strange breed – Walkers!
Yanks day? Do the people of Oldham stay away? I think not, this has become more and more popular to people from all areas.
Signs that disappear, think you may need to speak to OMBC about that, they maintain the signs, supposedly!
Where the hell did you get that £100m figure? Are you sure you don’t mean £100k? I think that figure may be OMBC excuse to tax Uppermill shopkeepers out of business!! Which they have several times!


Becoming part of Yorkshire
Wrong again!!
Saddleworth is part of Yorkshire! It was grabbed by OMBC in the 70s, but how wrong you are! You really should research things properly!! Saddleworth and several other Ares have requested the formation of a new borough, and to leave OMBC.
Did you realise Saddleworth is the biggest area in the borough? It’s actually around three times the size of Oldham central.


Other points

Schools
Oldham is rebuilding our schools, guess who is last on the list, well that was easy, saddleworth school, this building is – well falling down!!! Rotten door / window frames, leaking roof, falling plaster etc, the school is to be rebuilt on a new sit yet to be found??? But OMBC has only got until 2014 to do this now I have to ask, have OMBC got any intention of doing this? Now before you answer this, let me point something out, Saddleworth school intake is 1317 pupils, a lot of these are from Oldham, current status – full!

Now before this becomes yet another so called saddleworth moan read on-

Now lets take count hill school, intake 1320, and Breeze hill 900 intake = 2220
Both schools are to close!
Where do thee kid now go? Local new school is the academy at Waterhead that’s not yet been built (only got until 2014) intake capacity 1500!!!, erm, now I know some other schools capacity has been increased through revamping etc, but is there something I’m missing? Like – 720 places???

This blog to be continued-

Next subject- the kids say- where’s our lollipop lady gone? I cant cross the road!!

PS- sorry about the crap grammar and spelling!!! ]]> jaspy http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=207 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=206 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:15:40 GMT Today I have spent £25 topping up my tropical fish tank as the number of fish had dwindled to just eight. At its peak there were 20 fish in the tank, although to be honest that was too many. I have had the tank since January 2006, and two of the remaining eight fish... Today I have spent £25 topping up my tropical fish tank as the number of fish had dwindled to just eight.

At its peak there were 20 fish in the tank, although to be honest that was too many.

I have had the tank since January 2006, and two of the remaining eight fish (gouramies) date back to that fitrst batch, so by all accounts they've done well as gouramies don't always live that long.

Anyway, I have bought two more gouramies and half a dozen mixed female fish whose breed name escapes me! One of the gouramies is bright gold and looks like a goldfish, but isn't.

This takes the numbers back up to 16 which is about right.

I have also cleaned the inside glass of the tank and bought some more water plants to spruce it up a bit. Very nice it looks too. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=206 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=203 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:56:33 GMT 18th July 2009
FINAL DAY

Firstly, a trip to Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey. The tide comes into the bay really fast here, and I did a bit of time lapse:
























The a quick trip to Benllech, a lovely beach that has a Blue Flag:


Then on to Moelfre, a tiny beach with nothing to stop the water getting on to the road:






Finally, back to the mainland and a trip up The Great Orme - fantastic views:




]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=203 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=202 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:18:20 GMT 17th July 2009

First, a trip to Llanfairfechan to watch the tide coming in. I did quite a few shots, they are in the gallery, a sort of time lapse experiment. I'll put them in a separate thread later.




Back at Colwyn Bay, some scenes you normally only see in winter. Unbelievable for this to be happening in mid July:






Llandudno pier from my evening out on the bus.



The headland from the pier:


Finally, Llandudno by night:
]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=202 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=201 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:47:47 GMT 16th July 2009

A trip to one of my old stamping grounds from years gone by - Abersoch, Pwllheli, and Cricieth, on the Llyn Peninsular.

This is Cricieth Castle:


Abersoch harbour:


















The Warren holiday park. Reet posh this place nowadays.




St Tudwal's Islands viewed from The Warren beach.


The Warren private members club.
]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=201 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=200 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:38:36 GMT Wednesday 15th July. I went to the Llangollen Railway, a heritage railway, and took some pictures of the train and the surrounding area. More photos in the Gallery HERE (http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/album.php?albumid=82) Image:... Wednesday 15th July.

I went to the Llangollen Railway, a heritage railway, and took some pictures of the train and the surrounding area.

More photos in the Gallery HERE

















This is the River Dee nearby, you can walk out into the middle of it on some natural rocks.














]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=200 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=199 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:12:36 GMT Here are some pictures taken yesterday, mainly along the Rhos On Sea promenade. You can also see all these photos in my ALBUM (http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/album.php?albumid=82) A seagull: Image:... Here are some pictures taken yesterday, mainly along the Rhos On Sea promenade.

You can also see all these photos in my ALBUM

A seagull:


Rhos harbour, created artificially some years ago by the addition of that enormous stone wall. The wall serves a dual purpose, as the village of Rhos On Sea used to get wrecked most winters by the ferocious sea. This keeps it at bay:


Penmaenbach tunnel. This was bored through the mountain in the early nineties to double the A55 to dual carriageway. The old road goes round the side of the mountain, and that is now the "other" carriageway.This shot was taken from the car (yeah I know, but as you can see, no other traffic):


Driving down the promenade, I just managed to skirt round a manhole that had lifted up due to the rain. Ten minutes later two cars had hit it, suffering slight damage, so I apprehended two large red and white cones from some rloadworks further up, and put them in front of it, to relieve a bloke who was now stood in the road waving traffic round it.

A few minutes later the police came, this was a shot of them:


Some odd flowers I found nearby. ANyone know what they are?


Harbour again:


Main street of Rhos On sea:


Looking back along the promenade:


Looking across the bay:


Fire engine on the promenade dealing with an unknown incident, it moved off just after this was taken:


Along the bay again:


Looking out to sea:


Looing towards Rhos On sea from Old Colwyn:
]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=199 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=198 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:40:12 GMT Day 1
Monday 13th July

Honestly, very little to report of interest today due to the weather. Got here at around 3pm, did some shopping, then in the evening had a brief look around the town where I'm staying, though I've been here before so nothing new. Couldn't take any photos due to the torrential rain and thunderstorms, so hopefully a better report for Day 2. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=198 http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=197 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:25:19 GMT I am finally having a week off work (my first since Christmas) w/c 13th July 2009. This blog is for me to to post boringly about what I've been up to, and I'm sure nobody will read it.

I shall also be creating an album of photos I take, which will be equally boring.

I'll make my first proper post to it this evening. ]]> Scrotnig http://www.bowlandcentral.com/forum/blog.php?b=197