MY SON & I

Fun Stuff

2005-08-03

A TRUCKER PRAYER

A Truckers Prayer

Lord,
Help me carry this heavy load,
Keep my trailer straight on this road,
Lead, guide and direct,
and oh, what the heck,
Keep diesel in the tank, money in the bank,
and rubber side down. Amen!

Posted at 02:26:54 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (2)

2005-07-25

SPITFIRE

The Grace Spitfire History...

The Grace Spitfire was originally built at Castle Bromwich in early 1944 as a single seat fighter, and served in the front line of battle throughout the last twelve months of WWII, with six different Squadrons of the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force, all in all flying 176 operational combat sorties. It was delivered to 485 New Zealand Squadron on the 29th of April 1944 by Jackie Moggridge, one of the top lady pilots of the ATA, where it became the 'mount' of Flying Officer Johhnie Houlton DFC who was accredited, whilst flying ML407, with the first enemy aircraft shot down over the Normandy Beach head on D-Day.

In December of 1944, ML407 was transferred to 341 Free French Squadron, becoming the aircraft of Sergeant Jean Dabos. It then moved on through 308 (Polish ) Squadron, 349 (Belgian) Squadron, 345 (Free French) Squadron, 332 (Norwegian) Squadron, and back to 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, before being remodelled as a 2-seat trainer for the Irish Air Corps where she flew until 1960. She was used for the film 'Battle of Britain' and was then sold to the Strathallan Museum from where she was acquired by engineer Nick Grace in 1979.

Nick spent five years meticulously restoring the Grace Spitfire to flying condition as a 2-seat Spitfire, and completed this incredible project in 1985, when, on the 16th of April, the Grace Spitfire flew again, with Nick's capable hands at the controls.

Nick went on to fly it at many air displays and for filming, including 'Perfect Lady'and 'Piece of Cake'. A cruel twist of fate occurred when Nick Grace was tragically killed in a car accident in 1988, and his widow Carolyn Grace took on the task of learning to fly the Spitfire, which you can find documented in the film 'Going Solo'. Carolyn, as can be seen in the film, successfully completed her training by 'going solo' in the Spitfire in 1990, and hasn't looked back since, getting her Display Authorisation in 1991, and adding Aerobatic and Formation qualifications to that since.

The Spitfire is kept in Hangar Two at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK, and is maintained by Chief Engineer Dave Payne and his team. Carolyn flies the Grace Spitfire at many airshows, both public and private, up and down the country, and even in Europe, having also flown, much to her credit in no less than five record-breaking Spitfire formation flypasts between 1996 and 2000.

We have now been operating the Grace Spitfire for 20 years. On the 16th of April 2005, we celebrated this occasion with the first post-winter maintenance flight on the 20th anniversary of Nick Grace's first post-rebuild flight with Carolyn in the rear cockpit on the 16th of April 1985. Olivia aged 2 and Richard aged 10 months watched from the ground as if this is what your parents always did. On the 20th anniversary, however, they watched in quite different capacities. Flying Spitfires is still what their parents always did, but now they are working alongside Carolyn to help keep the Spitfire in the air.

The newly overhauled Merlin engine done by Maurice Hammond in Eye in Suffolk was delivered on time to the day and we have now done four hours flying - it has been running very well and particularly clean.

The Grace Spitfire Supporters made this maintenance period possible, without their renewals and donations - the pot would have been dry - they should feel very proud that they have made such a united contribution to help keep this Spitfire flying.

Grace Spitfire

Posted at 06:50:36 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (1)

English Humour 2

I'm Tired.

Yes, I’m tired. For several years I’ve been blaming it on middle age, poor blood, lack of vitamins, air pollution, saccharin, obesity, dieting, under arm odour, yellow wax build up and dozen maladies that make you wonder if life is worth living.

But I find out it isn’t that.

I’m tired because I’m overworked.

The population of this country is 51 million and 21 million are retired.
That leaves 30 million to do the work.
There are 19 million in school.
That leaves 11 million.
Of this total 2 million are unemployed and 4 million are employed by the government.
That leaves 5 million to do the work.
One million are in the armed forces, which leaves 4 million to do the work.
From that total, 3 million are employed by County and Borough Councils, leaving 1 million to do the work.
There are 62,000 people in hospital and 937,998 people in prison.

That leaves two people to do the work.

You and me.

And you are sitting on your arse reading this.

No wonder I’m bloody tired.

Posted at 06:27:44 PM | Post Comment | Read Comments (1)

English Humour

The rules

1.       The FEMALE always makes THE RULES.
2.       THE RULES are subject to change at any time without prior notification.
3.       No Male can possibly know all The Rules.
4.       If the FEMALE suspects the MALE knows all The Rules, she must immediately change some or all The Rules.
5.       The FEMALE is never wrong.
6.       If the FEMALE is wrong it is due to a misunderstanding which was a direct result of something the MALE did or said wrong.
7.       The MALE must apologise immediately for causing said misunderstanding.
8.       The FEMALE may change her mind any time.
9.       The MALE must never change his mind without the express written consent of the FEMALE
10.   The FEMALE has every right to be angry or upset at any time.
11.   The Male must remain calm at all times unless the FEMALE wants him to be angry and/or upset.
12.   The FEMALE must, under no circumstances, let the MALE know whether or not she wants him to be angry and/or upset.
13.   The MALE is expected to mind read at all times.
14.   If the FEMALE has PMT, all The Rules are null and void.
15.   The FEMALE is ready when she is ready.
16.   The MALE must be ready at all times.
17.   Any attempt to document The Rules could result in bodily harm.
18.   The MALE who doesn’t abide by The Rules can’t take the heat, lacks backbone, and is a wimp.