The Preseli Beast Bach

You 'little' Beast,

With hidden claws,

Waiting for me,

As I turned for home.

The music played,

Before you sprung,

Your deadly trap,

With drum bands and whistles.

My strength sapped,

By that quarry,

The winding road,

And those long desolate fells.  

Cold and hungry,

Me not you,

As I climbed,

Your back at Foel Cwmcerwyn.

Only to drop,

Once more to,

The Beasts Lair,

And the boardwalk to home.

Roger Bennett

May 2014

(All Rights Reserved)

A short poem about The Preseli Beast Bach 10.5 mile off road race, the Beasts Lair, and of course the highest point on the Preseli Mountains; Foel Cwmcerwyn

Preseli Beast Bach

Well the running has taken on a whole new level! Forget the idea of 26 miles, as I have stepped on up to a much tougher event. Last Saturday I competed in and completed, what was for me; the arduous Preseli Beast Bach in 3:21:55 

Yes, I know that this isn't a time to write home about, but when you have been as unfit as me, and have dreamt of doing a Fell Race, then getting around one without stopping, in any time, however long is a huge achievement.  

There were hills, more hills, steeper hills, streams, more steams, mud, bog, Fells, woodland trails, muddy trails, more trails and all out fun. I bought a Salamon Agile 12 and took along the Welsh Fell Runners Association Mandatory equipment along with 1.5 litres of SIS orange flavour GO drink, quite a few energy bars, and emergency supplies of food (nuts, dried fruit, jelly babies, and jelly beans). That of course meant an extra 0.5 stone of weight on my already oversized frame. Albeit that frame isn't as oversized as it used to be when I was 22 stone.  Still, maybe I should have bought the smaller Salamon Agile 7 Hydration Pack. But of course it's difficult to make choices at the time of purchase when you don't know the products.  You can read reviews, but we are all different, and maybe we are all looking for something different. For me at 18 stone, small is better, and as good as it is, the Salamon Agile 12 ain't small.

The best part is, this would also have been a stunning event to use that Action Camera that I have been thinking about buying. But when money is tight, there tends to be a lot of thinking and very little actual buying.  The one that seems to be the established market leader at the moment is simply too expensive, whereas I'm not sure that I can manage and use the Mobious 1082 cheaper option, and of course I would also need to buy the waterproof housing. I suspect that either camera would clip onto my Salamon Agile 12 hydration pact.  So it was going to be a simple choice between 'A' or 'B' and then Garmin go and release a new product that seems to be a lot cheaper and more user friendly than the 'established one' and my cheaper option.  Better still, those that have read this Blog also know that I am a keen photographer, and the Garmin thingy seems to have certain functions that assist the photographer. So now there is a serious third contender.  Which of course means more thinking, but at least for the moment it doesn't involve more hills, more streams, or more bog.

I have put myself down as a potential Garmin (specific product) tester.  That's not a job, it's just a situation whereby they lend you an Action Camera, and you try it out.  The unfortunate part being that you have to give it back at the end of the period.  

If I manage to snaffle up a loan product then I will let you know what I think of it.  But if I don't make the cut, then maybe one of you lovely readers will send me a message and spill the beans as to what you think of the Garmin Camera.  Oh while you are at it; can you also let me know about the Garmin Foreunner 220 and/or 620 with heart strap watches, as if I ever manage to save enough dosh, then I want one of those as well :-)

ROYGBIV

Richard of Leicester Gave Battle in Vain 

This is the lifelong pneumonic handed down to me by one of my Primary School Teachers some 45 years ago, and was used to remember the Colours of the Rainbow. Which we now know to be RED ORANGE LIME GREEN BLUE INDIGO VIOLET.  There was a YELLOW in there somewhere, but some fool thinks that Richard is from Leicester and not York so to help future generations I have had to transpose the true YELLOW contained in a Rainbow into the so far unknown rainbow colour of LIME. 

It's so confusing when people mess with the truth.  Millions of people know where King Richard was from. So can we please bury him where he and his then family would have wanted him buried and not put him on show where he was found? 

Richard of York (yes folks it is York) gave battle in vain. 

RUNNERS WEEK

Well except for Circuit Training on Tuesday evening this has indeed been a 'runners week' for me. It all kicked off at last weeks post Parkrun coffee session whereupon I (maybe foolishly) offered to take one of the other Parkrunners to the Red Kite Challenge at Devils Bridge for the early afternoon and in doing so compete myself having just done the Parkrun. 

Here we are only eight days later and my runs have consisted of 3.1 mile Parkrun, 6.2 mile strenuous Red Kite Challenge Trail run, 3.1 mile Parkrun route easy, 5.1 mile hills, coastal path and woodland, 6 mile hill trail and a small section of road, and a 3.1 mile Parkrun. That folks is 26.6 miles unless of course my maths is wrong.

So we now know that I can do the 'Marathon distance', and it's now just about the time span from start to finish along those 26+ miles. Currently the time stands at 8 days, so the next target has to be to reduce that time down to 8 hours, and in doing so maybe reduce my Parkrun time down to sub 30 minutes.

It gets worse

It gets worse regarding Michael Wheatley as according to the BBC early today (7 May 2014) not only was he one of two people 'detained' "on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery." but "He has gone on the run twice in the past and each time staged a series of violent robberies before he was caught and re-jailed."  Blinking heck, when is someone in the government or the judiciary / prison service going to be sacked, that is absolute madness.

Lifer Michael Wheatley

Can someone please explain to me and to the rest of society which fool allowed a person who apparently received 13 Life Sentences in 2002 to be kept in an Open Prison only twelve years later? And having place Michael Wheatley in such an easy going environment, then allowed him to walk out of the front door with the vague hope that he would return? Absolutely crazy or what. Someone or some persons in both the government and the judicial system should resign or be sacked.

Mo and Roger

'Mo and Roger' I wish, can you just imagine doing a few training miles with Mo when you are this size and this slow? It would be my dream, but would probably be his worst nightmare! 

The 6th May will be the 60th Anniversary of the first recorded sub 4 minute mile, achieved by Roger Bannister when he crossed the line in 3:59.04 at the Iffley Road Sports Ground in Oxford back in 1954. 

That's quite a few years ago, but it's right and proper that we still remember the achievement. In part because of the current trend of poorer performances by English runners compared to historical data; but also to gather inspiration as we try to push ourselves harder at all levels of the sport, be it short or long distances. I managed 10:33 minute miles yesterday in training.  My fastest mile time over 5K is exactly 10 minutes. Roger Bannister must have been going like a rocket when he set that blistering standard 60 years ago.

It's not the only achievement in running that has been in the news of late. But somehow this next bit was not so widely published.  Mo Farah was mistakenly thought of as having somehow 'failed' at London recently. How his success can be regarded as failure I simply do not know.  Charlie Spedding had held the English Record for the Marathon with a time of 2:08:33 since 1985 and then Mo Farah came along and eclipsed it.  To put this Marathon Athleticism into context: not a single Briton has recorded a sub 2:10 Marathon time since 2005, that is until Mo Farah came along at his debut marathon.

Mo and Roger, I doff my hat to both of you, well done.

Locke 2014 Tom Hardy Review

Locke: One newspaper review commented that the 2014 film "... Locke is played by Tom Hardy, who effects a rich Welsh delivery that I could listen to all day" Yeah, if you want your ears to bleed. 

We thought that the accent was poor, so poor in fact, that after 10 minutes, my eldest daughter turned to me and enquired "is he supposed to be Welsh", which left me quite perplexed as I thought he was Norwegian.  The Christian name done it for me, the confusion that is.

Locke is probably a great film if you haven't spent a few hours driving earlier that day. Mind you, if you have been driving, then at least you can have a kip while the film is playing.  This folks is the first time in my life that I have ever walked out of a film. And trust me, I have suffered some dreadful cellulose, with dreadful acting, and dreadful directing, but never ever has a film previously had the same effect as sleeping tablets.  If Locke was a pharmaceutical company, then it would make a mint.

Ring, ring

"Ifan here, Ifan from Tonypandy in Scandanavia, but if you can't pronounce my Welsh name properly, then you can call me Ivan.  I know it's confusing, some people think that I'm Ivan the Terrible from the cold countries, instead of Ifan from wet Wales. You see butty, it's all in the pronunciation.  It's Ifan as in bee-van without the 'b' you see.  

"Hi Ivan, it's Gareth: how's the the game going, do you know the result?"

"It's a cool game this concreting business, almost as cool as movie making. But I'm not in a cool movie at the moment, instead I'm stuck on huge blinking motorway with all these paying patrons" 

"Well, I just want to tell you, you're sacked"

"From the film Locke, or as a Welsh impersonator? Oh sorry, I have another 432 telephone calls coming through and I have to shout at Dad"

Ring, ring, yet again

"Ifan here, Ifan Locke, oops, I meant to say Ivan Locke"

"Hi Ivan, it's your one night stand, can you help me?"

"My name's Ifan not Ivan, but seeing that we only met once so maybe you didn't quite get my name.  But don't worry, it's a YES, I'll fix it! I made my decision"

"Good, when will you get here?"

"Well almost everyone in this auditorium hopes that I get there pretty blinking quick"

All in all, that was 18 minutes of my life wasted, let along the ticket cost.  I can recuperate the money, but those 18 minutes are lost forever.  

Mountain Warehouse

I am so impressed by Mountain Warehouse that I'm not too sure where to begin.  

Repeat custom, is all about customer service. I tend to patronise a coffee shop called 'Baravin' these days, and that's all down to their excellent customer service.  I can only assume that the folks in the Mountain Warehouse head office in London, have at some point visited Aberystwyth and the aforementioned Baravin and that is where they learnt their excellent customer service ethos. I'm quick to complain when things go wrong and it's only fair and proper to praise when things go right.  On this occasion, better than 'right' and as such I am really grateful to the Mountain Warehouse customer services team and their manager.  I had a problem, they listened, they were polite and friendly, and they considered the options fairly, and then put the matter right. Indeed, the customer services team went a few steps further than needed; and that folks breeds customer loyalty.

Good products, good customer service, fair prices; what more do we as consumers want?  

Remember that when you are considering your next outdoor clothing or equipment purchase. You can buy anywhere, but where will you turn if things go wrong?  It's a given that things occasionally do go wrong, and more often than not in my life, when they have gone wrong, I have been left high and dry.

But on this occasion I am soaking wet, and very happy about it indeed. 

Roll Up FREE excellent quality Coffee served by lovely staff, roll up, roll up

. . . and this folks is what FREE coffee looks like. Costa is 5p in the £ with a few enhancements for coffee club members but none of it is worth writing home about. Caffe Nero and Coffee No.1 is one stamp per drink = 1 drink when stamped card is full. The exceptional Coffee Barker in Cardiff is a cake and drink when their stamped card is full.  BUT these mothers were handed to us free in a coffee shop in London while we were awaiting a decision and had popped out for a break.

Lovely staff, spotlessly clean and spacious venue, and great coffee to boot. Yes we made a donation in a charity container, and yes we would go back without hesitation when paying the full price. Praise indeed to the manager and the staff as you opened our eyes to another Brand when we had been operating inside our comfort zone. I suspect that the cafe was located on Fetter Street adjacent to Bream's Buildings, but I also suspect that you will get the same friendly service, spotless venue, and excellent coffee at all of their outlets, albeit you will normally pay the full price.  

The long hard slog

I know how hard it is running a 5K Parkrun let alone slogging it out on the road for several hours, so I've just sponsored Elaine Rowlands and you can help Elaine raise money for both 'Ty Hafan', and 'The Stroke Association' too by donating at www.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineRowlands 

All I ask is that you mention this Blog in your donation message at virginmoneygiving.  And if you are feeling really generous then my justgiving page can be found at www.justgiving.com/roger-bennett1 but unlike Elaine; my runs are small and pale into insignificance.  But if you are really rich or have a spare one hanging around, then you could send me a Canon 5D Mark III to help me take better photographs :-)

Liswerry 8 Part II

Well there was no 'reeling in' nor '700th Place' in last weekends astonishingly good 'Liswerry 8' 2014 road race.  When we reached the last mile, there was no way that I could catch 'Emma from the Rhondda' let alone pace maker 'Tom of the Chepstow Harriers'

76 runners who had paid their entry fee stayed away due to the atrocious weather in South Wales that weekend, and for my part I managed a credible 607th out of a field of 624 runners that included 4 who did not finish the Liswerry 8.  I even managed constant 11 minute miles.  Well to be exact, 11 minutes and 2 second miles.  I also managed to squeeze into an extra tight black bin bag to try and keep a bit warmer before the off.  By squeeze into, I mean my shoulders and chest, the rest of me remained exposed.  The 'squeezing' bit reminds me that the weather was so bad, that I squeezed the rain water out of my gloves just before the Starting Gun.  But running helps mental ill health and I wouldn't change my experience of the Liswerry 8 for the world.  It was a great, albeit very tough, day out.

If I could afford one then I would buy a Garmin 610 or preferably the touch screen, training advice mode, easy data upload Garmin 620 GPS watch.  

But meanwhile I will have to continue using my sub £50 Polar Heart Rate Monitor and an ordnance survey map, and bin bags.  Unless of course a very rich reader of this Blog wants to gift me a Garmin 620 complete with Garmin Heart Rate Strap and a Canon 5D Mark III camera?  At which point I could run and take photograpgs, now that would be a nice idea :-)      

Liswerry 8

Someone that I know has faith in me and suggests that I'm not going to come in 700th on Sunday at the 'Liswerry 8' as I am to focus on a runner in front in the last mile and hook them and then start to reel them in. 

This folks is an extremely good strategy BUT question: what do I do if they are 1.2 miles ahead at that point?



NB The 'Liswerry 8' (check it out on the Web, but remember to enter early for the 2015 event, as 2014 'Liswerry 8' was sold out extremely fast) 

Canon 5D MK II or III

Well Bloggers, Christmas has come and gone and either Santa couldn't afford the "Canon 5D Mark III (or the older MK II) in any legal condition" that I referred to in my last but one Blog post, or more realsitically, the said Santa was awefully confused by the lack of a chimney on our home in an estate.  For you Horse and Hounds folks, by estate, I mean a housing estate, and not some sprawling mass with grouse shooting, parties, and fields.  

Well hey ho Santa, you could have left it by the front door or even asked the postie to deliver it.  

So it well and truly looks as if the squeezed Bennett finances cannot stretch to the Canon full frame camera.  But not all is lost to anyone thinking of the poetry and eternal gratitude bit; as my Birthday is looming in only a few days time.  So get your skates on Bloggers, and if anyone out there is (a) super rich, or (b) has a spare Canon 5D MK II, Canon 5D MK III, or a Canon 6D lying around unused in a drawer, then you know of a poor Blogger who would be really appreciative of the gift. 

Not Guilty

Congratulations to Elisabetta and Francesca on what appears to me as an outsider looking in; to be the corrct verdict.  I wish you both a very Merry Christmas, and hope that your health fully recovers in the not too distant future! 

WANTED

WANTED: Canon 5D Mark III in any legal condition.  Will exchange eternal gratitude and free Poetry.   

Please note that the Canon 6D is a suitable alternative even though it lacks a swivel rear LCD screen (which has become essential after using a smaller sensor 600D for while).  I promise that the Camera will be given a very good home and kept in a smoke free environment (I have nothing against smokers if you are a smoker and are just about to gift me a camera) and a pet free home (again, I have nothing against pets or their owners, they are all lovely, especially the Canon 5D Mark III owners who are about to upgrade to the 1DX and the Canon 6D owners who curse the lack of a rear swivel LCD and are upgrading to the 5D Mark III).  All poetry will be written in English.  Eternal gratitude shall be of the timeless variety i.e. you can bask in the knowledge that I am truly grateful as I can't afford either full frame camera myself and to be quite fair, I have been a very very good boy all year.  Well, other than quite a few bouts of anxiety and depression.  But then again, that is why I find the poetry and the photography so useful.

POUGHKEEPSIE

Here is one for my Cousins from across 'The Pond' (four feet per line with rhyming A, B, C, D, between each stanza): 


POUGHKEEPSIE 

Gliding towards that bend of death,
Unknown to those who are onboard,
The Poughkeepsie train to New York,
Gently clatters that Dark Sunday. 

Very soon four shall have no breath,
As the Metro North falls starboard,
Pushed on a bend and not a fork,
The cause of this crash who will say?

Not Donna lying there in death,
Nor Kissok Ahn shall sound the chord,
Neither James are able to talk,
Because they are no more this day.



Roger Bennett
December, 2013
All Rights Reserved

FALLEN

I wrote this poem this afternoon. Why are we flying crewed helicopters above major cities, when lightweight drones could be remotely flown. Police helicopters don't put out fires, or convey medical emergencies. It is inevitable that air ambulances over remote areas are needed, but crewed police helicopters over major cities are not. 

FALLEN

Falling sharply from the sky,

That wingless bird on patrol,

Then preying on those souls below.

No longer able to fly,

Dark silhouette and that hole,

Nine have died is what we know.

But why should anyone die?

Will this be the final toll?

What is left from this to show?

What can truly justify,

A wingless bird on patrol,

With thousands at rest below.

When lightweight drones do fly high,

Remote flight and with no soul,

And less risk to those below.

Roger Bennett

02 December 2013

All Rights Reserved

Corps of Drums

The trial of the two accused of murdering Drummer Rigby commenced today.  Maybe this is the right moment to re-post my poem 'Corps of Drums' that I wrote shortly after the two cowards committed the hateful and wholly uneccessary crime.  They want name changes and ask to be known by different names in court.  Let us hope that the authorities refuse to bow to their demands, and instead refer to them by their names at the time of their henious act.  Meanwhile, the name of Drummer Rigby shall live on for ever, but their known names, and or their wishful names shall soon be forgotten. 

Corps of Drums

The wicked did lie in wait
Seeking death and Heavens Gate
Thinking that they would gain fame
With intent to kill or maim
Both were cowards through and through
Choosing for not one but two
To first strike down and then slay
The soldier that then did lay
Upon this ground of England
Close to his family band
The Corps of Drums will now sound
Drummer Rigby on the ground


Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
May 2013

Remembrance Sunday 2013

Here is a short poem that I have written for Remembrance weekend: 

The Orchestra

With Hell's Concert

and its incessant inferno

Echoing above 

We the dammed

Wait below 

In our pit

For no man

Yet to move on land

Above us

10 November 2013

Roger Bennett

All rights reserved  

The Cull

The New Year brings about New Years Resolutions.  These Resolutions, some well thought out, and others a bit more difficult to sustain, are an obvious outcome of a new period in our life cycle.  

As time progresses and we leave the Winter months, many of us embark on 'Spring Cleaning'.  Is this part of the casting off of what was gathered to sustain us in the Winter?

Maybe the proliferation of the Internet expands this list to provide us with yet another cycle as we enter the following Winter.  Depending on where you live, does October bring with it a Social Networking cull?  As the Winter looms in front of us, do we begin to realise, and thereby evaluate who we will be interacting with during those long dark months, if we don't have a clear out now?

I've both executed and have been a victim of a social-networking cull this week.  One friend had a clear-out, albeit she repeatedly denies the occurrence of that cull when challenged.  So did another friend, and he also denied its existence.  Is it a case that the 'cull' takes place, but that its instigator is embarrassed by the outcome?  Does this embarrassment or awkwardness bring with it feelings of a necessity to avoid admitting the act?  Or having originally culled you, are they glad of your approach and thereby welcome you back into the fold?  A sort of social networking test of kinship.

Mind you, neither of the two culls that I mention; caused the flap and flurry of frantic activity that was caused by the pre-cull announcement that was made by a third friend.  Her statement of intent caused a massive response that ranged from 'what's wrong?', to pleas of retention, and best wishes for the future.  

I know her to be a really nice person, and the activity generated by her announcement reflects just how much others in her social network think of her.  The pre-cull announcement was my idea, a way of letting people down gently, and for those who do slip off the 'causeway', to somehow give them some comfort in the knowledge that others were culled too.  Or were others culled?  Is a pre-cull announcement a method for avoiding conflict, especially when there is only one intended recipient for the cull?  Gosh, how people interact is mind bogglingly complex.  But I've been restored to the friends that I thought that I had lost, and my own list is a more manageable 52 and family.  So Happy Social Networking folks, and spare a thought for those who wake up one morning and find that they are no longer part of a network that they previously enjoyed belonging to.  

Malala Yousafzai

So Malala Yousafzai is favourite to win the Nobel Peace Prize when the Winner is announced this coming Friday.  Well, there is no surprise there then.  Especially if you had read my Blog Post of the 03 September 2013 when I commented upon the madness of the decision to cut the broadcast of one of Malala Yousafzai's speeches in mid flow.

http://www.simplyelectronics.net

I ordered an item from http://www.simplyelectronics.net 

on the 12 September 2013 and today it's the 07 October 2013 and that single item order that has been paid for (with the money removed from my account) has still not arrived! 

Malala Yousafzai

I was watching and listening to an inspirational speech by Malala Yousafzai on Sky News with a tear in my eye; when they switched off for a commercial break. Madness or what?

I just can't believe that they switched to the news room when likely future Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai was in full flow. Speaking like a senior politician, the audience were reminded of the power of books and the value of education. We were reminded of how people can be empowered through reading and education, and we were told something else. I don't know what, because some idiot switched off the broadcast.

Water safety

There's an overly complicated explanation of drowning doing the rounds at the mo on the Social Networking sites. The thrust of the advice is:

1. Most drowning deaths happen with friends and relatives nearby

2. Breathing is a primary function and talking is secondary and therefore someone drowning can't shout as they are trying to breathe

3. Attempting to stay afloat is a primary reflex, and therefore the person is unlikely to wave their hands

4. If you shout at them and they shout back then they are probably ok

5. If they are quiet with their arms out they could be drowning, so if they do not shout back - get your arse in the water - and haul them out

6. Never put yourself in danger when rescuing another person, check your surroundings, call on others for help, and lower yourself into the water and do not dive or jump

7. See you local swimming pool for life saving courses

8. Teach young children how to swim

9. Teach young children the dangers of playing by water

10. If in doubt get them out

Swimming clubs and pools sometimes run advanced resuscitation courses. The British Heart Foundation and St. John's and others often run cheap or free of charge First Aid or (compact) resuscitation courses. You don't have to be a swimmer to be a lifesaver as you could be the one on the side when the victim is brought to the edge and has to be saved. Get yourself qualified as one day that victim could be a good friend or a family member. Knowledge is power, so get yourself some powerful knowledge.

When I resuscitated and saved a young woman in Cardiff last year (and subsequently had another breakdown due to the trauma of dealing with the victim) there were EIGHT persons stood around including her best friend when I arrived at the scene, and not one of them had a clue of the most basic and rudimentary life saving techniques. Don't be number 9

3:28:81

I'm as much in awe of athlete Mo Farah this morning as I was when I retired to bed last night. To put it into context; not only is he now the British and European 1500m record holder, but this isn't his race, and his pre-race times were no where near this astonishing record! Even if he did (according to the Daily Telegraph) joke with Steve Cram at lunchtime that day that he might break his record for the distance)

The British 1500m Record has stood for 28 years, the European one for 16. And then along comes a Double Gold Medal winner from a significantly longer set of distances who wants to train running faster and drops down a distance. Wow, simply inspirational. I'm over weight and I'm old, but I would love to train for a day with this athlete. It wouldn't just be about physical exercise, to hit these times, it must be about mental capacity and control as well as physique.

Way to go Mo!

Sergeant Sean Murphy

Massachusetts State a police tactical photographer Sergeant Sean Murphy is a hero. Can someone please pass on my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to him, and mention that he is in my prayers for a safe and happy future.

In my humble opinion the well publicised photograph that appeared on the front cover of The Rolling Stones Magazine intentionally or inadvertently (I don't know which) glamorised a face of terrorism. Sergeant Sean Murphy absolutely done the morally correct thing in issuing the photograph rebuttal, and should be hailed a hero. We are talking about the image of a person who allegedly dealt in death and maiming, someone needed to step up to the mark, and Sergeant Sean Murphy stepped up for all of us. Way to go Murphy; you are what makes Boston good.

www.lippyeyes.com

Continuing with the poetry theme (brought about by the lovely weather and the relaxation that allows us to ponder the world and its going on's), here is a poem about make-up and prosthetics and the skill of the professional make-up artist who weaves her magic just like a magician. So this post also leads on from the previous post about the magician and illusionist called Dynamo. The professional make-up artist and hair stylist transforms the client and brings the canvas to life. After one of her jobs, the father of the Bride asked how the transformation had taken place, to which the Maid of Honour pointed at the make-up artist and said words to the effect of: ". . . she done it, she weaved her magic, she's a magician", hence the twelfth line of the poem, enjoy


www.lippyeyes.com

Lippyeyes
Does hair and stuff
Smoothing out the rough
And bringing beauty through
For anyone including you
Phantoms can simply appear
In images far and near
Or maybe a beauty day
With good make-up made to stay
Planned to make you feel good
As only an artist could
With her magic worked through
On make-up just for you
Whether her or his
Because that is
Lippyeyes

Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
July 2013

All rights reserved

Rhyming scheme a,b,b,c,c,d,d,e,e,f,f,g,g,a
1.5 feet per line ranging plus 0.5 foot to 3.5 feet per line for central section and then reverse back to 1.5 feet

Dynamo Magician Impossible

Dynamo Magician Impossible starts a new series on Watch tonight, so here's a little one for you Magic people out there:


HOW?

New Dynamo,
You rock you know.
With your Magic fun,
You are the One.

You exhilarate,
And don't berate.
New Dynamo,
I want to know.

How to levitate,
And find that State.
Making faces bright,
When casting your light.

New Dynamo,
Please don't show.
How its done,
Instead keep Mum.

How the Rising Ball,
And coins do Fall.
And screws undo,
Please keep true.

And maintain that Code,
Beyond being old.
Because you are Dynamo,
The one we know.



Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch 2013

All rights reserved

The Other Guy

Here we are chaps and lasses, a poem that I have written just for you, whoever you are. Four feet per line, rhyming scheme AA, BB, CC and so on, with a half couplet at the end that brings the finale to the poem.


THE OTHER GUY

When you begin to make me cry,
Keep watching for the other guy.
You know the one that wants to be,
The one spending his time with me.
And when you start to scratch away,
To harshly berate me this day.
Call a stop and think once or twice,
As the other guy is quite nice.
And he would warmly hold me tight,
With love so tender through each night.
You should pause and think of the fact,
Which may force alarm and an act:

When our love hearts no longer sing,
The other guy can do his thing.


Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
July 2013

All rights reserved

P&O Part II

In case anyone is wondering who P&O are:

". . . P&O Cruises is a trading name of Carnival plc, a company incorporated in England with company number 04039524 and with registered office at 5 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NE. VAT reg no: GB 761 4300 58. ATOL 6294 ABTA V8764. . ."

P&O

I know that I'm a valued customer even though I have never sailed on a P&O Cruise, but I must admit that I was slightly taken aback earlier today when the chappies and lasses at P&O sent me the following email:

"Dear

This is a test message ready for the CheetahMail training!"

Wow, is this an African Safari invite, or some new fangled 'Go faster' than normal email system. Or is it instead a simple play on words and some method of fooling people i.e. cheating? I'm not quite sure which is correct, but to help you out: I'm not an employee of P&O. Indeed I'm not employed by anyone.

But if I was a P&O employee, and if I was a P&O employee with big enough clout: then I would sort out your pricing arrangements so that loyal customers do not feel conned when others join them on the P&O or Cunard ships at greatly reduced rates. But as I'm not a P&O employee and I have never sailed with P&O or Cunard; then I don't have to worry about either point. I don't even have to be overly concerned about the 'CheetahMail training' either!


Ps please don't rush to get rid of any of your senior management soon, or rush to get rid of Getaway prices as I'm thinking of booking a bargain with you :-)

Ian Brady convicted Moors Murderer

I'm so happy that
Ian Brady lost his bid
But I would have
been much Happier
if he had never lived

Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
June 2013

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Poetry
With the Breaking News on SKY and BBC that Australian Prime MinisterJulia Gillard has been defeated in yet another leadership challenge, I immediately turned and penned this short poem

Oz

Rudd the dud

Waiting in the wing

While Hawks

Do plot and sing

Oh this Australia

Of mine

With fickle heart

And now broken line

You cast me off

Away from your life

Replaced by Rudd the dud

And the inevitable strife

Roger Bennett

Penrhyncoch 2013

Oil

Just watching a TV programme regarding Ghana's oil. Way to go Ghana, but let's hope that the new found wealth is spent wisely and benefits all Ghanaians. in particular let us pray that the manner in which the oil money is spent; is a manner that provides legacy and strength for the future.

It's no good if the oil money is wasted, or the oil money is used to prop up an economy. The oil money must be used to build things that in turn will create wealth through tourism, or science, or whatever the strategic theme is.

The oil will go, but its legacy is needed for many generations to come. Those in charge now, are only the custodians. Their strategic vision and actions of today; can make or ruin the tomorrow.

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 3

Please fully read all earlier Blog Posts in this help series. Having successfully removed the lock from the door, place the lock on a flat surface without too much clutter around in case any pieces fall out during the next stage.

Check either side of the lock for the provision of a screw. Remove the screw to separate the two main housings parts of the lock.

Photo 4: showing the two parts of the lock, its assembly and the retaining screw

The spring provided to maintain the latch in the out position so that the door remains closed when shut. The spring locates onto a protrusion to prevent it slipping.

Photo 5: showing the worn end on one part of the rotating device

The rotating locking device moves along its separate housing, and this movement allows the device to be removed and to be reinserted. Either side of the rotating locking device is supposed to be identical. The difference in shape is caused by wearing of the metal during use. To restore your door lock to full working order, you simply dismantle the lock, turn the rotating locking device around, and reinsert it. Then place the spring back in position before securing the two main metal housing plates back together using the securing screw.

Photo 6: showing how you reinsert the rotating device

Place the lock back into the door and secure the retaining screws. Slide the metal bar through the central hole and bak into the door handle that is still secured to the door. Refit the door handle that you previously removed. Check that turning each handle does operate the latch. The watch should now return fully into the door lock allowing ease of use.

If a previous repair has already been undertaken to turn a worn rotating looking device around, then you will need to obtain a new device or a new lock for the door.

Hope this helps you in some way,

Happy DIY

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 2

Please fully read all earlier Blog Posts in this help series. The door lock that contains the latch is removed by removing the screws on the edge of the door that hold the lock in place.

Photo 2: showing the removal of the retaining screws

In this example it is a two lever lock which has a second bar or bolt with a thumb turn to lock a bathroom or toilet door.

Having removed the one or two securing screws, you then remove one of the door handles. Removal of the door handle allows you to access and then remove the metal bar that runs through the door and the door locking mechanism. Note: the metal bar will often be dirty with an oil like residue, so it is worth having an old cloth or some kitchen roll to hand to wipe this clean. You have to remove the bar in order to slide out the locking mechanism. If having removed the bar, it is difficult to remove the lock then; (1) check that all of the screws securing the locking mechanism have been removed from the edge of the door, and (2) then insert a screwdriver into the square opening into which the bar normally slides and use this screwdriver to slightly move the lock forwards.

Photo 3: showing the use of a screwdriver to assist in freeing the lock

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 1

I recently Blogged a series of 'How To' posts regarding how to repair a failed Renault Clio fuel flap. This series of posts is submitted in the similar vein of helping my fellow man.

These Blog posts are about repairing an internal door latch where the latch now fails to fully return back into the door rebate or locking mechanism when you turn the door handle. the failure of the latch to fully retract inwards towards the door will leave part of the latch protruding out beyond the door edge. This protrusion can cause the door to lock in the closed position, thereby trapping the user on the other side.

In all instances the commentary in this and other parts does not supersede professional advice or the skill of a trades person. All tools should be kept out of reach of small children. You should wear safety glasses when working in close proximity of a screwdriver and when working with objects that include springs that could force an item to dislodge and spring towards the user. It is best to keep small children well away and supervised by another adult during the repair process in case a small child inadvertently closes the door and locks themselves on the other side. I am unable to accept any responsibility for the advice obtained in these Blog Posts as you are free to accept or reject the advice as you see fit.

Principles of operation of a door latch: the latch mechanism contains a square hole through which a metal bolt or bar slides through and engages into the hollow internal recess of the pair of door handles which are secured one on either side of the door. For the purposes of these posts I shall refer to the central 'bolt or bar', as simply the 'bar'. As the user moves the door handle, the metal bar also turns inside a square hole in the locking mechanism. This turning action of the handles and the metal bar, simply retracts the latch back into the door.

Photo 1: showing the latch, thumb lock, and metal bar visible when the door handle is removed

Quote

"If you are going to train; then train like a Warrior"

Roger Bennett, 2013

TRAINING Part 3

The fluidity of a training plan may involve (amongst other things): changing the frequency that the plan is used, ceasing or changing the intensity of one or more elements of the plan, extending or reducing the duration of an element, adding a new element to the plan, increasing or decreasing the recovery time between two or more elements or between particular sessions, and or incorporating alternative training into the plan.

Subtle changes will also include changing the time of day when activities are undertaken, or changing the nutrition or other systems that support the training plan. These systems are not restricted to physical items, and this almost non exhaustive list may extend to such things as: the use of friendship networks to support completing various elements of the plan, training reviews of what or how activities are undertaken, fitness analysis of current performance, health analysis, peer group comparison, and competitive timed events.

TRAINING Part 2

As a qualified strategist I would also mention that 'no plan survives first contact with the enemy'. This point alone suggests that all training plans should be fluid to enable them to be modified to suit the prevalent circumstances.

There I was this afternoon at the softer running track with an intention of stringing together some fast kilometre splits. I couldn't use the stopwatch provision on my iPhone 4S as I use the Nike Running App to record my activity, distance, total time, weather conditions, and overall pace. I couldn't use the stopwatch on my Polar watch as I needed to use the Heart Monitor function to ensure that I did not exceed my safe exercise limits. So thankfully the gang at the Aberystwyth University Sports Centre came to my aid and lent me a stopwatch.

My plan was to try to run 5 x 6 minute kilometres with substantial walking breaks in between. This madness came about when I accidentally set off to fast last Saturday and recorded an incredible (for me that is) 5:59 first kilometre. I mention 'accidentally' tongue in cheek, as there is nothing accidental about running beyond your known zone. i simply got caught up in the rush of the start and swept along at an unsustainable pace. But I was asked by a trainer friend: if I could replicate that pace, and try to do repeatedly with suitable walking recovery periods in between. To put this idea into context, I seem to be a comfortable 35 minute 5K runner with only once out of lots of runs, when I have romped home under 35 minutes.

A pace of 6 minutes per kilometre on a track, requires a pace of 1:12 per half lap, repeated time and time again. That folks as I found out today is tough!

Better still: my pre-training-run observations were that I was not certain that I could replicate the 5:59 'accident', and if I could, then I would be well chuffed if I managed it once let alone being able to repeat the effort. Which was a good observation as one of my friends piped up that he was not expecting me to run all of the splits at 6 minutes per kilometre.

Phew, I was so grateful for that comment, and equally grateful that the Heavens opened up half way through the extended session!

This was my 30th recorded run and I was out moving on the track for 55:43 minutes, of which I managed 6.93 kilometres distance and 1km split times of (in order) 6:00, 6:21, 6:28, and 6:33 with most of the fading happening in the last half lap to three quarters of a lap of each kilometre.

TRAINING Part 1

Well the best made plans can go wrong: as unfortunately the astonishingly talented Jack Carroll found out on the weekend when he was robbed of his BGT victory. Jack instead romped home as the best act from Britain in the 2013 Britain's Got Talent competition, but alas the accolade of being voted the best act from Britain didn't bring with it the glorious sum of £250,000 or the knowledge that you are considered the best in the competition. When Jack embarked on his journey, he would not have planned on being beaten by a group of shadows from someplace other than Britain.

Sometimes what we plan for, or what others plan for us, don't always work out. Planning is in many ways about proposing an 'ideal', the thing that we want to happen, or that which should happen, if everything proceeds as expected. This expectation applies equally to business planning, military planning or physical exercise planning in its various forms.

"A training plan is just that: a plan. It is not a set of laws, commandments or marching orders that you must live and die by, and never deviate from. Your training plan represents an ideal scenario: (how) you hope to be able to perform if everything goes as expected." Brad Hudson, author of Run Faster (£10, Broadway)

Robbed

Well Jack Carroll was robbed, mugged actually as he is someone oozing talent and should have been the BGT Winner 2013. Now what part of Britain did the 2013 Britain's Got Talent winners come from? Was it Wales, Worcestershire, Wiltshire. Jack Carroll the REAL winner of BGT 2013. Jack starts off by ad-libbing and gets a big laugh with an unprepared line:

I was going to run on and throw some eggs, that's been ruined


This is followed by some more serious comedy:

Greece as an example, they hosted in 2004 and they are pretty much ok aren't they?

He's looking to downsize

It's now horses for main courses

Runner up, a little bit insensitive is it not?


Jack Carroll you are a very funny guy indeed and you brightened up a few evenings for me and undoubtedly countless others, well done!

Well done Mr Cameron et al

Further to my 04 May 2013 Blog post; the BBC REPORTS today that ". . . Up to 600 Afghans who worked as interpreters or in other dangerous roles supporting allied forces in Helmand will be allowed to resettle in the UK, the government has confirmed."

Well done to our government.

Wear YOUR T-Shirt with PRIDE

I'm proud to have been able to have bought and now wear my HELP FOR HEROES T-shirt. It's blinking cold today, but sometimes you just have to tough it up

A very funny guy indeed

Its been a while since I blogged. Probably it's a lot to do with the traumatic news that has been relayed almost daily on the news media. So much that you could write, but so much that you dare not.

It's all doom and gloom with a flurry of dreadful things happening in the UK. We appear to be plagued by the jihadists, the fascists, the neo-fascists, the child murderers, and a lot of others who are equally bad. We can't string them up, and therefore seem to be firmly rooted in a moment in time where we have to simply accept that they are all a blight on our society. I emphasise 'all' as it's not just about the extremists, but is rather about an awful lot of unsavoury people.

No one has to live in the U.K. as unlike other darker regimes, there is freedom of movement and ease of migration. So if you don't like true democracy, free health care, free social support, money for labour (with a set minimum wage to prevent exploitation), free and sound education of your younger siblings and offspring, freedom of expression, freedom of dress code, legal support, fair justice systems, good housing stock, good public transport, access to financial support, freedom to practice a religion of your choice, a relatively safe environment (when the sick, and cowardly aren't butchering small children and unarmed soldiers who are alone) then buy a ticket and migrate elsewhere. It's your choice, not mine, not theirs, not his, not hers, but yours.

So with all of that in mind, what pops up but none other than Jack a blinking well needed breathe of fresh air Carroll. I giggled while in the bath yesterday thinking of his Britain's Got Talent Semi-Final appearance, and giggled again in the car on the several hour drive to our Capital City. One of my daughters didn't know who I was talking about and we YouTubed his performance at midnight and yep folks; I giggled again.

In no particular order, and with no apology for any errors, my giggles stem from amongst other things;

I'm a professional gymnast

Don't let him press the big red button

The other one is the leader of North Korea

Don't take it seriously, it's only a joke

If you dial the number, you don't get to speak to me

I thought that I would cut out the middle man

That wasn't my cup of tea

What do you think you are? A comedian?

I thought that I would do opera

Please don't vote for me because I wear glasses


Ha bloody ha ha. Jack Carroll funny guy. Go on: give him £250,000 an audience with the Queen and a blinking MBE as soon as is possible. Here is a chap who isn't just coping with his problems, not just trying to lead a normal life, but is now leading an extraordinary life. How many comedians have you watched and can remember their act days later?

Jack Carroll is an inspiration to us all. And to all of the troubled people out there, who think the world is against them, and who feel that they have to resort to nastiness, aggressive oratory, and aggression towards and then the butchering of the innocent. Stop and think; you ain't got it that bad at all. So take two growing up pills or buy a ticket and migrate. Oh, and if you butchered a young girl in Machynlleth, then face up to the horrors and admit that there is no body to dispose of as you incinerated it in your lounge.

Gosh, it's the first time in a long time that I wanted a tree and a piece of rope, to use on someone else. Would that be anger, revenge, or justice? Or would it be a natural outcome of a society deciding to fight back and thereby retrieve its ascendancy, rather than bending to the will of the diseased. I chose the last word in that sentence carefully.

In stark contrast we are graced with the presence of Jack Carroll; a person that is striving to put the 'great' back into 'Great Britain'. Now where was I? Oh I know, "The other one is the leader of North Korea", ha bloody ha ha.

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett

Choosing to stay rather than run and thereby coming face to face with a killer brandishing blood covered blades; leaves me in no doubt whatsoever that Cub Scout leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett should be awarded the George Medal.

She showed bravery and compassion mixed with a sense of duty to her fellow man. Well done Ingrid Loyau-Kennett you are a hero.

Corps of Drums

The wicked did lie in wait
Seeking death and Heavens Gate
Thinking that they would gain fame
With intent to kill or maim
Both were cowards through and through
Choosing for not one but two
To first strike down and then slay
The soldier that then did lay
Upon this ground of England
Close to his family band
The Corps of Drums will now sound
Drummer Rigby on the ground

Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
May 2013

Rest in Peace Drummer Lee Rigby

Drummer Lee Rigby
Corps of Drums
2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
1987 - 2013

You were 100 times the man compared to the cowards who murdered you. They used both greater numbers and weapons, while all you had was a t-shirt in support of a charity. You outwardly wore your compassion, and the tributes from your family and friends are testimony of your caring, loving, and compassionate nature.

Yet again it is the cowards who strike while the brave and gentle die. Rest in peace Drummer Lee Rigby for your name will live on, whereas their names and what they stood for have already been cast aside. I will order and wear my help the heroes t-shirt with pride, and I hope that many others will do likewise in recognition of your sacrifice.

Renault Clio Fuel Flap Failure and Fuel Cap replacement

Having found limited resources online regarding this problem, I have held back on Blogging on other subjects in order to keep these sequence of posts together and thereby make it easier for the reader to find the detail and resolve their Clio problem. Previous Renault Clio Blog Posts in this sequence explain how to disengage the Clio locking mechanism with hopefully no damage to your car bodywork or the Clio fuel flap. But in all cases any actions taken are your sole responsibility and do not proceed unless you are confident with what you are undertaking as I am unable to accept any responsibility for errors or design differences.

To help you try to resolve the problem I have also posted photographs and a diagram showing which bits to disengage and when the Clio fuel flap is open how to secure the protrusion to prevent the tiny piston re-engaging the hole.

You now need to obtain a lockable fuel cap as the fuel flap on the Renault Clio should no longer operate if you have disabled it and plugged the hole. The lockable fuel cap should prevent your fuel from being siphoned off and stolen, but it also protects your car from vandalism as certain things poured into or deposited into the fuel system may cause catastrophic damage to the fuel lines and engine. So providing a lockable fuel cap seems to be an essential requirement.

If you take off and look at your existing fuel cap you will see that there are lugs on the underside that engage into the Renault Clio design locking thread. DO NOT take a photograph as you could cause an explosion when your non intrinsically safe camera sparks within the flammable range of petroleum. I emphasis this point, DO NOT photograph. Also ensure that you are not smoking or using an electronic cigarette. No naked flames, no lights switched on or off, no camera click, no phone call, nothing, nowt, nil. Petrol vapours move rapidly out of the fuel system and cover a vast area quickly, so please ensure that you exercise a degree of common sense.

The fuel cap design that appears specific to Renault means that you have to use a compatible fuel cap. The compatibility is relevant to the age of the car. I recommend a google web search followed by looking at auction sites and mainstream online sellers as well as car specific sellers. I cannot recommend buying a used item. You have to ask yourself why a used item is for sale.

I found Renault Clio lockable fuel caps with two keys in the price range £10 to £25 including delivery. In all instances I would recommend telephoning a seller where the details are shown and stating the year of registration for your Clio of emailing them with the same query where a telephone number is not provided. I think that it is important to check compatibility in this way as I found three different fuel caps, but only one will fit our specific Clio date.

Renault can also provide a key coded lock at a price. This system means that your engine key will unlock your new fuel cap. But a few words of caution with this idea at circa £54 (not sure if that's with or plus VAT). If the new fuel cap is not secured to your Clio like the existing non locking fuel cap, and you drive your Clio away from the petrol station with the fuel cap on the petrol pump, then that's a lot of money to throw away. If you opt for the key coded Clio fuel cap through a main dealer, then check that they can, and if yes, that they will secure the new fuel cap to the rubber link fixing inside the fuel flap free of charge. Otherwise, I can only recommend sticking with the cheaper two key option, as it will be relatively painless if you drive away and forget the fuel cap.

We could have done with some help when the problem occurred with 'Serena' and I hope that some of these comments and the photographs and the diagram help you in some way. Scroll down to the other Blog posts in this sequence that were uploaded on different dates in order to get the full picture and advice that is offered in good faith and which you are free to accept at your own liability or simply reject as you continue searching for a solution to a locked fuel flap on a Renault Clio.

Happy Driving!

Renault Clio Fuel Flap Failure

Along with the previous photograph and diagram in earlier Blog posts. This is the locking device into which the protrusion with the hole sits. You can just make out the tiny piston that moves up and down in and out if the hoke in the protrusion in order to lock the fuel flap.

Renault Clio Fuel Flap Failure photographs

This photograph supports the diagram and explanation provided in an earlier Blog post. The photograph shows the masking tape used to protect the bodywork and the protrusion from the fuel cap into which the piston locks. The white bit at the top of the protrusion is 'blu tak' used to fill the hole after which electrical tape was wrapped around to prevent the piston slipping back into the hole when the car was locked and unlocked in the future. The hole goes all the way through the protrusion and therefore the piston can be accessed from below and pushed up with a long thin screwdriver to disengage the lock.

Renault Clio Fuel Flap Failure

The fuel flap on the Renault Clio belonging to one of our daughters failed in the locked shut position. A search of on-line forums provided a release method but no images or diagrams. So I have uploaded an explanation to assist anyone out there who is faced with a possible huge repair bill.

Repair methods

(1) If you model has a release cable inside the boot on the same side as the fuel flap then use the cable to release the fuel flap.

(2) If the piston or release mechanism is near an air-bag operating cylinder or air bag device as mentioned in some forums, please exercise common sense and stay well clear as you may inadvertently operate the airbag with catastrophic results and possible serious injury.

(3) If there is no release cable and you want to try to release the fuel flap to gain entry to the fuel cap then:

(A) use masking tape to cover and protect the area below the fuel flap and at the bottom of the fuel flap against damage,

(B) use a long thin screwdriver inserted from the bottom of the fuel flap and aimed at a small circle some 0.5 cm in diameter to press the centre of the circle and thereby push up a piston from the hole to disengage the lock

(C) when the fuel flap is open use electrical tape or similar to tape the piston into its housing and to wrap around the holed assembly attached to the fuel flap to prevent the piston re-engaging into the lock

Notes: you need to use masking tape to protect the bodywork and the lower part of the fuel flap or you will damage the paintwork. Do not try to prise the flap open fully without disengaging the piston as you will damage the mechanism. You can use a torch and by slightly prising the fuel flap from the left hand side you will see the piston. On our Clio it looked like a small black circle.

Mikhail Tal

Following the 'Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament' where I scored for me a respectable 2.5/7 given my fifteen years absence from the chess scene; I'm now working my way through the complete games of Mikhail Tal; former World Chess Champion.

Tal is recognised as a dashing, imaginative and sacrificial player who acquired positional sense. If there is anyone who I should model myself on then it has to be Mikhail Tal. Simply because my previous play as a sacrificial player was all about the King hunt, whereas the new me has to adapt and develop if my chess re-birth is to be a success.

When I finish this book, I'm going to begin looking at ideas and themes and avoid getting bogged down in the quagmire of opening theory. I intend that the next chess publications that I study will be the ones recommended by my good friend Adam. From time to time I shall try to update the Blog with my chess progress. Meanwhile it's back to the coffee and the book and the pocket chess set that have dug out and dusted off. Today I looked at two games, tomorrow it will be a third.

A Tale of Two Hoppity's

I was allocated my FIDE Chess Player ID of 1803247 following the tournament in Tanygroes. I regard this FIDE ID as my first step towards achieving a good chess grade through enjoyable means.

I am now at home and reflecting on the Handicap Rapidplay tournament, along with the advice that I received from two good friends (who are also excellent chess players) prior to the tournament.

My Welsh FIDE Rated friend (rated that is if one of his opponents in a FIDE competition hadn't managed to score zero and mess it all up for everyone) suggested ideas and themes to avoid well studied openings, playing a particular chess App that is available for the iPad and future purchases of two books (in particular about strategies and things).

Whereas my German IM and Playmaten photographenfriend suggested reading a chess book after fifteen years absence, just in case the knight moves differently these days!

What was said in jest all too soon turned out to be true at the board.

I used ideas and themes to fill my opening void, and there I was in one of the rounds when to my surprise my opponent moved a Knight from g8 to f8, i.e. straight line and from one colour square to a same colour square. I stopped the clock and said "excuse me but I think that you have just made an illegal move". But being a gent, I also mentioned that it was ok to retake the move and to move any piece.

In another round my opponent stopped my clock and said something with the word "lose" in it. I was unsure what was said so I asked again several times. Each time the statement was repeated, but I was confused. Was my opponent trying to cast a spell, or had I really fallen foul of some obscure rule? So I called over the Arbiter. He questioned my opponent, who told the Arbiter that I had lost. I was worried that I had contravened some new rule whittled up during the last decade and a half of self induced chess exile. Further interrogation by the Arbiter concluded that my opponent was claiming that I had lost on time. "Don't be silly" said the Atbiter, looking at the clock carefully, "he still has two minutes left!".

I went on to deliver checkmate with a pawn, Rook and a Hoppity. So my reminiscence at the end of the day; is very much a tale of two hoppity's along with gratitude towards two friends.

And that would be that, if it wasn't for my honesty. You see folks I have to own up to my astonishing error in one of my won games. Striving to place a Rook on the 8th Rank I found that my arms had somehow shrunk and astonishing as it might seem, I let go of the Rook on the 7th. Where it was sat enprise and on the same rank as one of my opponents Rooks. Needless up say, he took it, and I was left thinking that I need to use the Rack the next time that I visit the gym.

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay ChessTournament Round 7

Now safely back home and on the laptop I am able to update my Round 6 and 7 games.  In the seventh round I yet again was given 5 minutes to my opponents 25 minutes in this inaugural Handicap Rapidplay tournament.  I was quite happy going into the last Round with 1.5 points as that was 1.5 points more than I expected.  An uneventful opening moved itself into a solid middle game whereupon I was able to swap off the major pieces and slowly move into a won Rook, Knight and Pawn endgame.  I had the added satisfaction of finishing the tournament with my first checkmate of the day.

John Florence 1309 v RBA 0-1

2.5 / 7 and a very happy tournament experience indeed.  The highlight must have been finding my Chess Mentor RG Taylor present and being able to reminisce with him and plan some ideas for the future.  One of these may be about obtaining a FIDE Chess ID Number and taking a holiday to play in one or two Swiss Tournaments on mainland Europe.  So seeing that meeting my old friend was the best part of the day for me, it is only fitting that I leave you with a chess photograph of the said friends:

RG Taylor, 12 May 2013

Newport Chess Club

Former National Master Graded 200 (English System)

Welsh Representative in the Commonwealth Championships held in India (albeit ill health prevented Bob from taking up the place when the Championships were held).  Photograph taken with a Canon 600D and f/1.8 Prime Lens handheld indoors without flash.

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay ChessTournament Round 6

I became a tad tired and packed away the iPad for post my Round 6 and Round 7 games.

My time just slipped by against my Round 6 Opponent Awne Osinga.  Five minutes simply isn't enough time when you are this much out pf practice.  I cant tell you where my time went, as I moved swiftly every move, and was astonished when I noticed that my flag had fallen.  I was equally astonished when my opponent noticed that it had gone some twenty moves later.  Hey ho, happy days, as I thoroughly enjoyed the game up until Osinga noticed the win.  It was a tight position, in which I had probably thrown away a few opportunities.

RBA v Awne Osinga 1468 0-1

1.5 / 6

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay ChessTournament Round 5

RBA Bennett, 12 May 2013

The problem with being addicted to caffeine is that while drinking your coffee the next round can start. White pieces and caffeine against a lower graded player made no difference as once more I lost. The opening and middle game was equal and then I managed to make it unequal. Unfortunately, not in my favour. Rook and minor pieces middle game became too complicated for yours truly who made an inaccurate King move and allowed my opponents white squared Bishop into too strong a position and my pieces fell one by one.

RBA v Julie van Komenade 1781 0-1

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay ChessTournament Round 4

The problem with being graded higher than most of the field, is that you always get the up float to the higher group if there is an odd number of players with the next highest score, but you never get the down float to the lower group. So there was me after three rounds and running third from last out of 24 players and expecting to be on board eleven, to find myself on board nine against a competent player.

The Kings pawn game started well for me and I was able to squeeze out if the opening and into the middle game with equality. My Bishops done a good job of controlling a few diagonals and with a central Knight I was able to go the exchange up for a Knight and pawn to Rook. With the added bonus of winning back the pawn quickly and being able to force the Queen and Bishops off the board. This let me into a won double Rook against Rook and Knight ending which cancelled down even better to a Rook v Knight ending. I kept my head in Round four, and even though I was stuffed after the lovely SUNDAY lunch in Tanygroes, I still managed to gobble up a few Kings side pawns and cancel out my Rook for his Knight to leave a won King and Pawn endgame.

Phew, thank you Colin, I needed that.

Colin Denham 1672 v RBA 0-1

1.5 / 4

The other news brought to me at lunch, is that my travelling companion James Cook managed a draw in Round 3 when his opponent failed to prosecute checkmate with a double Bishop and King v King endgame. So I suppose that the learning outcome after this Round and the Round 3 news; is that endgame knowledge is extremely important.

James Cook, 12 May 2013

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament Round 3

My third game was an excellent example of the what the lack of opening preparation can do to you at club and tournament level.

Against 1. d4 I went for a Kings side fianchetto and sort of muddled my way along for the next thirty or so moves until my position collapsed as one of his hoppity's gained too many squares around my King. So it has to be back to the drawing board for me to ready myself for a proper tournament later this year or next. I need to prep some good opening material for both colours as well as gaining match fitness.

Tony Haigh 1959 v RBA 1-0

0.5 / 3

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament Round 2

At least in this game I had the white pieces and 10 minutes compared to that of 20 for my opponent. 'Dim ots' as they say in Welsh; I still lost.

RBA v Howard Leah 1606 0-1

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. bc4

and a return to my childhood and the piano opening that was bashed out day after day especially at school and during my early club days. I had the better play in this game and when my opponent went pawn hunting with his Queen on my queenside, I went King hunting on the Kingside.

Unfortunately I cane close, but alas I did not break through and his pawn superiority won the one sided double and then single Rook ending. The highlight of this round being my discussions with two players about the strong Swiss tournaments in Gibraltar and Bulgaria and the ease with which a few of them enter these events annually. So the inspiration from my friend Adam a few days ago has now been fuelled by learning of the first hand experiences of others. Meanwhile I need to sharpen my play and learn what the top players are using these days. Gosh fifteen years is a long time, but with two rounds gone, I'm good to say that it's all very enjoyable and it does indeed stretch the mind.

0.5 / 2

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament Round 1

Well the tournament organisers used my last published grade of 1875 which was a tad disappointing as I was hoping for a 200 to 300 drop for a handicap tournament when I haven't played for a decade and a half. Hey ho as wifey would say, and a disgruntled Roger sat down with 5 minutes on the clock and unfortunately the black pieces, compared to the 25 minutes allocated to my opponent Roland Spencer 1471

With the better game and only 10 seconds left on my clock I offered a draw that was duly and correctly accepted. Roland praised me as not being rusty so that sought of proves the comment made by my youngest, "playing chess is like riding a bike". Yeah ok, but it doesn't half hurt when you fall off.

0.5/1

Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament

Here I am at the "Jan Sendall and Paul Clark inaugural Memorial Handicap Rapidplay Chess Tournament" held in Tanygroes Ceredigion on the 12 May 2013 and lo and behold I bump into my Chess Mentor RG Taylor of Newport Chess Club fame and the Welsh Representative in the Commonwealth Chess Championships held in India (albeit Bob ended up not playing on that occasion due to ask minute serious ill health). Bob was astonished to see my name on the list of competitors as he knew that I had not played chess for 15 years and I was astonished to see Bob as I had not seen him for a little longer than that.

My plan for today's competition was 0/7 providing that I enjoyed myself, and by meeting Bob the enjoyment criteria has already been met!

Yet another national disgrace

It's astonishing that a country that lingers with incompetence when failing to get rid of the bad, simultaneously fails to welcome with open arms the good.

The red carpet should be rolled out for Hashmat Nawabie and all others who risked their lives under fire and will continue to risk their lives as the coalition forces now withdraw. They each done what they believed was right, and to now deny them asylum, is a shocking stance for a democratic country to take. Freedom must also be about safety, as you cannot fight a war in the name of freedom; while denying a safe outcome for some. This is not about immigration, this is not about quota's, this is not about whether or not this was a 'just war' (are any wars truly just?), this is simply about doing the right thing.

There is no more to be said. Not welcoming Mr Nawabie and others like him is a disgrace.

Lunar Sputnik Apollo N1 Vostok Saturn Soyuz Gemini

I now know why the United States of America had to place an astronaut on the moon.

The CCCP launched the first rocket into space and they were the first to orbit the earth. The CCCP put the first satellite into space and relayed the first radio signals from space back to earth. They were also the first to have a capsule return safely to earth and they brought back the first photographs from space of the earth. They were the first to put an animal in space, the first to put a human being in space, the first to put a woman in space, the first to put civilians in space. The CCCP were also the first to put two crewed rockets in orbit simultaneously, and the first to have one of their cosmonauts compete a space walk. The only thing left was for someone to safely land on the moon and get back.

Therefore Kennedy's rhetoric for a moon landing was a much needed statement at a time when Russia had consistently won hands down, time and time again.

Season 10

Thank you Bro for the Mountfield petrol engine lawn mower that I found in your skip when I visited you a decade ago. As an anniversary treat, I may strip it down and spray it this year. A fantastic machine that starts first time after each winter break, still put to use ten years after it was discarded.