The ‘real’ Cunard Queens..

Forget Blue Ribands. They come and go, but the Queens don’t. The first two were built in response to other European countries putting up a show on the high seas. Even the Americans built a ship, the SS United States, but where are they now? All scrapped and no future plans.

Pictures say a thousand words..

RMS Queen Mary.. now preserved at Long Beach, USA

She even looked impressive in her ‘war togs’.. New York Harbour 1945

RMS Queen Elizabeth.. the big sister.. in Cherbourg, France

She had ‘war togs’ too. After the war, Mary and Elizabeth got to fulfil their purpose.. to run the finest trans-oceanic crossing EVER..Unfortunately, at the end of her service, she was sold off to be a floating University. After a fire broke out on board, Hong Kong Fire Department sprayed so much water onto her, she sank.

RMS Queen Elizabeth II.. preserving standards and carrying out her duties with the same grace as her namesake..

So this is where the story of the ‘real’ Queens ends, , for me anyway..

And now for the sad part..

The Cunard Queens which followed the QE 2 are not what I would call real Queens. QM 2 is designed to do Trans-Atlantic crossings, but the new Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are just a couple of high-rise river barges. Even QM 2 has that look about her.

They have even unregistered in Southampton, and re-registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, and guess why? They want to be able to do weddings in the Caribbean.

Mulberry

Not the tree or the berries.

An apprentice Grim Reaper is sent in to ‘collect’ an aging, crotchety lady, trampled down throughout her life by two sisters who always had the edge over her.

The stuff of comedy? Excuse the pun, but ‘hell yes’. I saw it first time around on TV. The credits rolled and I didn’t know what to expect. Within minutes, I was hooked by the amazing performances by all of the cast, most especially the two main stars, Karl Howman and Geraldine McEwan.

The series only ran for two seasons, and at the end.. no, I can’t spoil it for you. Watch it for yourself. If you have seen it before, it will bring back memories, all good of course, and if it is your first time, you will be enchanted, just as I was.

Here is a taster for you, episode 1, part 1

You are going to want to save the entire set of both series because I know that you will want to see it again and again. So, I will give you a link to a free YouTube downloader where you can save each episode and watch it at your leisure in Windows Media Player or Windows Media Centre. Your choice..

http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-Download.htm

OK. You have the tools, and you have seen the first episode. What are you waiting for? Permission? Permission granted.

The Morris Marina..

This is a Best of British failure. That it sold in numbers over almost a decade is sad testament to the undemanding nature of many car buyers at the time.

This car, other than the body, was a parts bin special. A nasty plastic interior, the worst colours imaginable, and vague steering were three attributes that it shared with other British auto nasties.

I drove a Ital shooting brake for maybe seven miles way back when. Every time that I approached a turn, I was never sure how the car would negotiate it. There were never two turns alike. It was scary.

The fact that it shared engine and suspension parts with the ubiquitous MGB did nothing for it at all. It was designed as a dreary vehicle, and it didn’t ever disappoint in that way.

Top Gear have it right. Take a look..

And yes, there really is a Morris Marina Owners Club..

So who bought a Marina? Essentially, any undemanding buyer who also didn’t like foreign imports.

Daley, Daley, Daley..

The world’s greatest decathlete ever, and he was British (still is)..

He was the first athlete to win Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European titles and hold world record.

Before him, British Olympic athletic interest was none too high because we didn’t have too many outstanding competitors. Daley changed that, and how we roared. In case you do not know what constitutes a decathlon, read this..

The decathlon requires proficiency in ten events - the shot put, discus and javelin throws; the long and high jumps; the pole vault; the 100 m, the 400 m and the 1500 m run and the 110 m hurdles.

You have to be good to win the Olympic decathlon just once. Our Daley won it twice.. in a row.. yayyyyyyyy.

He began competing in the decathlon in 1975 and won every event he entered from 1978 until 1988, winning gold medals at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games.

It has been suggested that he lights the torch for the 2012 Olympics. I can’t think of anybody more appropriate, can you? Maybe he will whistle the British National Anthem again, for old times sake. Yayyyyyyyyyyy..

You will never read anything bad about Daley. He may have been a little irreverent at times, but that was his to be. He was and always will be one of Britain’s true greats, and we all love him for what he is, and what he did..

For more about our Daley, start here..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daley_Thompson

Supermarine Spitfire

Designed by R.J Mitchell, built by Supermarine of Southampton (and many shadow locations around the country), the Spitfire was one of the pair of Merlin engined single seater fighters of WWII which defended Britain’s shores during September 1940 and beyond.

The photo shows a Mk IX which would not have been flying during September 1940, but the basic design and elliptical wing shape never changed. This one would be wearing the universal C wing.

Was it the best fighter of all time? It wasn’t always the fastest, and it couldn’t go into a dive like the BF 109 could, but most Brits would say ‘yes’. In truth, the German BF109 was equally good. It came down to the quality of the pilot and the way in which each pilot and aircraft was deployed.

What you have to understand is that the Spitfire was seen to have saved ‘Blighty’, so there will obviously be a soft spot for it. People ‘in the know’ have a healthy respect for both.

However, it is generally accepted that the Spitfire was the most beautiful aircraft to ever take to the skies, and it still is. The sight and sound of a Spitfire has universal appeal, and everybody within visual and aural distance will always turn to the direction of the noise, even Germans. The video below shows a Spitfire XIX flying at a German airshow.

The XIX was powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon, developing twice the power of the original Merlin. Griffon engined Spitfires turned a five blade prop, and sometimes a pair of contra-rotating four blades to counteract the immense torque of the Griffon. Pilots of the Spitfire would most likely tell you that the Merlin was the nicer to fly.

Enjoy the video. There are many more on YouTube.

If you would like to know more, see here..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire

Ford Escort Mk 1

Replacing the Ford Anglia, the Escort in standard trim was not exactly the most exciting car ever made, especially with the 1.1L engine. Shown is the two door model, four seats, rear wheel drive. It was cheap, cheerful and very popular. Ford released a 1.3L variant, and 1300 E and GT models which had more go in them and better interiors..

So why have I included it in Best of British? Well, Escorts were not all made equal. This simple car was just waiting to bloom, and did it ever.

See this? The Ford Escort RS2000. Still the same front grille, but now with go-faster stripes, fancy alloys and a power plant to die for. Along with RS1600’s and Mexico’s, all available as road cars, these wolves in sheep’s clothing became one of the all-time great rally cars. In go-faster trim, I think that this was/is the best looking Ford in the UK.

I believe that this was the very first European Ford, a joint venture, but it was way more popular in the UK than anywhere else, and a sheer delight to watch and hear on the RAC Rally. It showed that you didn’t need a blown and injected 7 litre power plant in a car with the proportions of a canal barge to have fun and be a real winner.

The Escort Mk 2 carried on the sporting traditions that the Mk 1 set, but after the Mk 2 came the front wheel drive versions.

The great thing about the early RS Escorts was you had the fun of high power rear drive but in a nicely controllable package, not unlike the BMW E30’s.

For more on the Escorts, take a look here…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_(Europe)

Blackpool Illuminations

It started with eight arc lamps on 1879, and this is what it looks like today. The lights are 12 and 24 volt which saves greatly on electricity consumption, and also makes them safer for Blackpool weather. The trams get a dose of lights too.

Above is a view of part of the lights, looking North towards the Tower.

You can walk the Promenade, drive by car (there is a charge for each car), travel by the bus that you rode in on, or take an open top tram ride along them  There are six miles of lights, and walking the entire length is not recommended..

I got to see it as a kid, but my family preferred the South Coast, Brighton, Bournemouth, Weymouth as far as Torquay. I have also taken others to see it in latter years. Other seaside places have lights but not on this scale. It really is quite unique.. BUT..

Blackpool is Northern, crass, the land of candyfloss and home to the ‘Kiss Me Quick’ cowboy hats,  It has always attracted types which may or may not be what you want your kids to see. It can be very busy, and queues and long waits are not uncommon. Blackpool is what it is, and you either love it or hate it. Probably the best time to do the lights is mid-week during early October.

Whatever, it is a British classic, and I have always believed that all kids should be allowed to see it all at least once in their lives

All about Blackpool Lights.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Illuminations