I usually amble down to this pavement bar, Gio's, during the late afternoon in order to turn the netbook on, order a refreshing restorative, and broadcast Lord Belmont's pearls of wisdom to the Globe.I spent about four hours on the beach again today. I have been walking barefoot, holding on to the flip-flops.One reason is that I wish to allow my toe blister to heal before I wear the Crocs again; another motive being that I am of the belief that walking barefoot toughens the soles of one's feet, thus eradicating years of hard skin.It must...
Sunday, 30 September 2012
I revisited Dali's restaurant last night and sat at a little table outside, beside the window. The owner usually stands at the entrance to greet established and prospective patrons.For the first course I ordered the "Playful" salad, more akin to a smoked salmon salad. They use balsamic vinegar as the salad dressing here.Unfortunately the playful salad proved to be a meal in itself; I say Unfortunately because the nose-bag is not overly spacious.It consisted of a dressed salad at the bottom of a kind of deep soup dish, with plentiful smoked salmon...
Saturday, 29 September 2012
All is well and quiet here. It is hot when the sun shines and warm when overcast. I'm sipping a G&T, seated on a Rattan armchair in a pavement cafe.I was at the beach for most of the day. I check the BBC News website daily, including the Northern Ireland section; thus I'm up to date on current affairs at home.I shall make my way to Dali's this evening in the hope that there will be a table available for the old fodd...
If anyone reading my blog happens to have a Brackenber uniform in their possession; or could even take a photograph of it, I'd be keen to publish it here. I attended Brackenber in the early seventies.I have checked the internet and there is scarcely any information about Brackenber or, to give the school its full name, Brackenber House Preparatory School. The school was an old, Victorian villa in Cleaver Avenue, south Belfast; and it was demolished...
Friday, 28 September 2012
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceThere has been a lot of talk about what will be in store for Corvette enthusiasts as Chevrolet plans for the upcoming model change. Yes, 2014 will mark a change to the seventh generation of Corvette, with a model they're apparently calling the C7.Photo by: corvetteonline.comBut just what the changes are remains a mystery, and there are many stories out there. This one caught my eye, but it is real or...
Timothy Belmont enjoyed another good gastronomic time at Dali's last night. The Tournedos Rossini was too tempting to ignore; the noble gnashers were prepared for Business.I ordered a glass of the white house wine and the ever-diligent Wolfie brought me a sort of carafe.The little morsels of bread and a vegetable spread in a tiny dish, with the refreshing aperitif served in brandy balloon, arrived first.Dali's was quiet when I arrived, though I was early. As I anticipated, the main course was presented to me after awhile: A fine fillet...
Thursday, 27 September 2012
The swimming here is simply divine. The sea-water is temperate; a fair bit warmer than Ulster's waters at Portballintrae Bay.I have a pair of flip-flops manufactured by a company called Crocs. These are, of course, the kind of footwear where one's big toe inserts itself between the shoe.Alas, despite having worm them for a few years, they remain uncomfortable: The part between my right second toe has chafed it, causing a little wound which needs some time to heal.Consequently, I cannot wear the right Croc without aggravating the cut skin until...
THE ACHESON BARONETCY, OF GLENCAIRNY, COUNTY ARMAGH, WAS CREATED IN 1628 FOR SIR ARCHIBALD ACHESONAccording to the Gosford Papers, deposited at PRONI,"The [Gosford] estate was acquired by ... [them] in the reign of James I [1611]. Since that time the name appears frequently in the roll of sheriffs and of members of parliament for the county, and several members of the family have filled the office of Vice-Admiral of Ulster. ...' 'The founder of the...
The other day I noticed that we had some new workers on the farm.They were hard at work culling the aphid that were trying to set up shop on my roses.Then when I looked a bit closer I noticed there were heaps of new workers, which could have something to do with the plentiful food supply. I have made a concerted effort not to spray pesticides, have let things like coriander flower and go to seed and have planted lots of flowering plants to...
I spent the day on the beach yesterday. The sand is so hot at times; it reminds me of Dudley Moore's comedy film, TEN.How amusing was it to watch him on the beach, getting the soles of his feet burnt by the sand, and using towels to get from A to B?The climate remains fine here, in Gran Canaria.Methinks that tonight I might revisit Dali's gastronomic emporium. The steaks are rather large; so, depending on the old appetite, I might opt for fish again, or have a main course followed by a desse...
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceClassic car and muscle car thefts certainly appear to be on the rise, as quick as I can report on one, another goes missing. It's a real tragedy that, to an enthusiast, is much worse than having your modern daily driver stolen. A piece of history, a symbol of our youth, a life-long dream, a measure of acomplishment, whatever our reason for owning an old car or truck, we're deeply...
You recall the little restaurant I alluded to the other day? It goes by the name of Dali's. Well, it was open last night, so I perused the menu again briefly and loitered a few seconds till the proprietor greeted me.He said I could sit at any table I wished, except the reserved one.This is a very small establishment, dear readers. Its complement of tables is about eight, at a push. Most are outside on the terrace.Dali's is a gem amongst swine. the chef-owner is an artist in his spare time. His oil paintings adorn one of the windows.Dali's states...
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Has anyone else had issues managing the blogs they follow?According to blogger I was not following any blogs at all so I have had to spend time following them all again. I am still not sure I have all of them. Grrrrr.For some reason I have no "Manage" button for my reading list. And now I have rediscovered blogs that I didn't know were missing. Oh well now I have some reading to catch up ...
I went for a stroll this morning, after breakfast, towards a palatial hotel on the edge of the sand dunes. Twitchers, I spotted my first hoopoe, about five yards from me.At approximate intervals of three hundred yards, there are public weighing scales on the foot-paths in this resort. Is this a subtle inference for those of us with a beady eye on the old doughnuts every hour or so?Their maximum payload seems to be 120 kilogrammes, whatever that is in pounds and ounces. the Earl of Belmont's inconsiderable bulk may not register thereon (!). These...
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceA major announcement was made to certified technicians last week that ASE's testing on Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling will be modified due to upcoming changes in refrigerants that we use in A/C cooling systems. This is the first substantial change to be made in two decades, and it will affect every shop in some fashion. Automotive A/C System DiagramPhoto Credit: autotechsform.com ASE testing...
Monday, 24 September 2012
It has been getting very hot here lately and yesterday was no exception.It has also been extremely dry. The last time it rained was mid July. I have raised a lot of seeds and have potted them on into indervidual pots but all this hot dry weather is making it hard to keep them from suffering.Yesterday we had a scorcher of a day with the below temperature of 37 degrees registering at 2 pm. It was one of those days that you...
A steady increase in readers from the United States of America is emerging. American readers should be aware that Lord Belmont offers them a very warm welcome. We share a common bond.One of my favourite authors, Sir P G Wodehouse, spent much time in the USA.Visitor numbers are volatile, and their origins depend on the time of the day when statistics are checked; though, at this moment, about 14% of my "hits" emanate from the United states.Domestic readers might sometimes think I am being pedantic when I'm being so specific about places and names,...
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceAn interesting twist to a story I have been following on a noteworthy collector Corvette. It was announced a short time ago that a Corvette with quite a history was to appear at the Corvettes at Carlisle events this month. What no one anticipated was that a controversy would develop that was so big it would lead to court!The "Lost Cunningham Corvette" is one of those stories steeped in mystery, intrigue...
Friday, 21 September 2012
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceYes, it's no surprise that Camaro's popularity is still running strong after 45 years. It's always been such a popular muscle car, and when Camaro's Facebook page reached 3 million fans, they decided to celebrate with a video recapping the history.The timing of the release is, once again, ironic. Just as I wrapped up writing of my article on the Z28 Camaro which will run next week, I get this video in my inbox this morning at 5am! I thought it would be a nice companion piece, and perhaps wet your appetite...
Thursday, 20 September 2012
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceUsing the proper tools and equipment for a repair, fabrication, or modification on your classic car or muscle car is essential. However, it's an area that many do-it-yourselfers take shortcuts on because the proper tools and equipment can be outrageously expensive!Because Guy Algar and I own a classic car repair shop, we use tools and equipment on a daily basis, and know the importance having and using...
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
During my recent visit in the United States I've been lucky enough to stay few blocks away from Ted Baker's garage on 21st in Sacramento. I was a bit intimidated by the gorgeous array of cars always parked outside and the spotless look of the garage. I approached them asking if it was possible to take some pictures and found myself embraced by an incredibly warm welcome and endless competence. Ted Baker has been working on the brand for almost sixty...
by Andrea L. AlgarMotorheads PerformanceWith classic car and muscle car thefts on the rise, car theft protection is more in demand than ever before. We all know that it's a risk when we take our prized cars out into public places, and it can even be risky parking in our own driveways and garages! But, many classic car owners are confused over the array of systems out there. Many do not want to do anything to diminish the value of an "all original" vehicle. So, what can you do?You've probably read the stories on recent...
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