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January 31, 2008

The Torch

Take a look at this. It's meant to be the World's Most Powerful Torch:

I have a funny feeling this is going to be banned in the U.K. I have a Maglite (the rechargeable version) and if you shine that into someone's eye they sure know about it. Can you imagine shinning this mean machine into someone's eye? Blindness for sure.
Not a bad price for it though, roughly £150. I wonder how much the bulbs are and how long the batteries last?

You can read all about it at the manufacturers website they are called Wicked Lasers

Posted by Markiss at 2:14 PM | Comments (0)

January 30, 2008

House of Commons Cognac

I have a bottle of "House of Commons" Camus Napoleon Cognac. I want to find out about it, so I do some searches on the Internet. Can I find anything about it? Can I bollox!
So the next best thing is to show you guys what it looks like and maybe in a couple of years somebody will stumble across this post and will tell me something about it. I wont hold my breath but you never know.
All I know about the bottle is that I was given it in 1991 in Norwich for my 21st Birthday. It also has a serial number on the back.
Any help would be appreciated.

Posted by Markiss at 12:04 PM | Comments (2)

January 23, 2008

How to fit a cat flap

I am well chuffed with myself today. Last night I fitted a cat flap to the front door. You see, I'm not the best when it comes to handy work, I suppose I am average. Mind you at least everything I put up stays up. Apart from my bed but that's another story! Anyway back to the flap. I had to borrow a jigsaw to do it as I don't have many tools of my own (at the moment). The scary bit was cutting a great big hole in my front door. Imagine if I screwed up at that point? Howling wind coming into the house for the next few weeks until I had a professional fit me a new door! That would have been a right nightmare.
I even took some photo's so I could prove I did it. Let's hope the thing stays up now. Oh and had better go get a couple of kittens too.
For those who are interested (I may get a few search hits for "How to fit a cat flap") and actually want to know how to fit a cat flap then the photo's are in the extended entry.

The front door before I was let loose on it:

With the template provided, mark out where you want the flap to go. You can probably see I changed my mind a few times. Four holes are then drilled in the corners. The holes had to be big enough for me to get the jigsaw blade in:

Cut the timber out with the jigsaw, this is where I am hoping it is the right size. It's better to do a smaller hole as you can always enlarge it to suit:

Cat flap screwed from back to front et voila, a fitted cat flap:

Now what can I do? A gate in the garden? Worktop in the garage? Fit a new bathroom? I think I will sit down and have a beer and think about it.

Posted by Markiss at 10:23 AM | Comments (4)

January 11, 2008

Housing Qualifications

I have been talking to someone this morning about housing qualifications in Jersey. He was worried that if he left the Island for a number of years he would lose his quallies. Well after looking on the Jersey Government website I found he is going to have no problems. I must admit that it surprised me too. I always thought that if I left the Island, for more than five years, I would lose my quals.
If you are born in Jersey (and have your qualifications) then you can leave for as long as you like and return whenever you like. 10 years, 20 years it's up to you.
Now if you weren't born here but gained your quallies from living here for the required period (10 years at the moment I think) you can only leave the Island for 5 years. You must let Housing know when you leave and when you return. If you are away for even one day over that, you will lose you quallies.
You can read more on the States of Jersey Government Site.

Posted by Markiss at 12:02 PM | Comments (2)

January 9, 2008

R.I.P Grandad

I had some very sad news at the beginning of this year. My Grandad passed away in his sleep aged 90. He was an amazing man. Unfortunately I couldn't see him as much as I would have liked to because he lived in England but I have lot's of fond memories of him. He was into fishing and boating, so I had no chance of not getting on with him :-)

Here is his Obituary taken from the Eastern Daily Press

William Robert Tuttle

William Robert Tuttle, who has died aged 90, was a leading Norfolk justices' clerk who spent almost half a century at the centre of the judicial system.

It was his boyhood ambition to become clerk to his local magistrates in Yarmouth and Bob, as he was always known, spent 17 years in the top post.

Highly respected by magistrates and the legal profession for his dedication and professionalism in a career spanning 46 years, he retired in October 1977.

Mr Tuttle was born in Yarmouth and went to the Priory School. He represented Norfolk at the inter-county school sports in the 100 yards and high hurdles. Aged 14, he joined solicitors Chamberlin, Talbot & Bracey as junior clerk to a partner, Geoffrey Bracey, who was also magistrates' clerk.

He became chief assistant to the bench in 1936. Shortly before the outbreak of war, he joined 245 Battery Heavy Anti-Aircraft. He became a sergeant major serving with the Queen's Royal Regiment, which saw action with the 56th Infantry Division (The "Black Cats") in Italy.

He was demobbed and returned to Yarmouth. He was made deputy chief clerk in 1957, although he had been acting in that role for five years.

In 1960, he was clerk to Yarmouth justices and in a series of reorganisations became clerk to the East and West Flegg Petty Sessional Division in 1964 and then in 1975 the Cromer and North Walsham Divisions.

On retirement, he spoke of major changes in the magistracy. In 1931, the Yarmouth court sat three or four times a week, starting at 11am and finishing well before lunch. There was a part-time clerk and three assistants.

By 1977, the Yarmouth group of courts, including Cromer and North Walsham, had 850 sessions and the bench rarely finished before lunch. He was responsible for 16 assistants. "Crime continues to increase," he said at the time.

A keen angler, with rod and line at sea, Mr Tuttle, who lived at Fritton, also enjoyed shooting and especially sailing his own boat. His former deputy and his successor, Jack Bacon, recalled several occasions going to sea in Bob's fishing boat.

About that time, Mr Tuttle bought the Latona, which had been built at Cantley in 1913, with two friends from funeral director Len Jary. Subsequently, this vessel was invited to join the 25th anniversary of the flotilla of "Little Ships" to re-create the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. But, in wartime confusion of that 11 days of assembling hundreds of craft, the real honour should have gone to another Latona, as it finally emerged in 1977.

However, Mr Tuttle was particularly proud that his Latona led the fleet into Dunkirk harbour in 1965 on what it transpired was not a sentimental return but her first visit. It was skippered by Harry Spencer, master of the port tug, with crew, Leonard Jary (former owner of the boat), Sid Palmer, former P & O quartermaster, and Mike Farman, then based at the EDP's Yarmouth office.

Mr Tuttle was married to Joan, who died in 1996, for 57 years, leaves four children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held next Monday (9.20am) at Great Yarmouth Crematorium. Donations to Caister Lifeboat.

Here is the last photo I know of that was taken of Grandad. It was taken on the 16th December 2007.

Posted by Markiss at 12:13 PM | Comments (3)

January 7, 2008

New phone

Got myself a new mobile phone on Saturday. Is about time to as my old one was over 2 years old. The new one is a Nokia 6300 which is xlnt. I'm actually writing this entry on it too! God knows how much it cost's to use the net on it. I was told it would be free but I doubt it.

Posted by Markiss at 3:29 PM | Comments (0)

January 3, 2008

Happy New Year.

A lot has happened since I last wrote on my site. Most of it was a little blurry to be honest.
I knew that would be the case when I counted the bottles of wine at home before we started the Christmas and New Year celebrations. 104 Bottles in total. Then there were the 6 crates of Lager too.
I wont go into to much detail as I wouldn't want to bore you lot.
The lunch I mentioned in my previous post was a great success. Success as in we both managed to stay in Town until the pubs closed. We were both pissed at 5pm but that's besides the point. Had an xlnt time, same again next December Chris?
Christmas day I had 8 people coming round and I was doing the cooking. The bird was a 16lb Turkey. It said it was big enough to feed 12-16 people. Well we managed to finish most of it. Went down the Farmers Inn for a few swifties first and then back to mine where I spent the next 3 hours in the Kitchen not being a very good host. I'm sure my guests were quite happy just filling up their glasses and chatting though.
Boxing day started off just right, as in slept in and when I finally got up all I did was sit in front of the T.V and veg out watching films. (Die Hard 4)
By the time night settled in we were ready to start again. So we decided to get the poker table laid and ended up playing that right through to the early hours. Not too sure what happened the next day but I would imagine I spent most of it asleep.
New year was spent down the Mary's, was the quietest I have ever seen it. Which wasn't a bad thing because you didn't have to wait long at the bar :-) There was a guitarist playing who I had never seen before. He wasn't bad after a few. I couldn't tell if he was actually singing or miming though.
Things heated up once we left there and went to Donna and Jon's place. Much more like a typical New Year, all sat round chatting into the early hours again. I got to bed just before 6am so must have enjoyed myself :-) Thanks for that guys.
Well there you go, not too much detail but you know what I got up to. Hope you all enjoyed yourselves and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.

All the best for 2008

Posted by Markiss at 12:11 PM | Comments (1)