Advice on gravel needed

[JoceAndChris]

Enjoying the discussion on supermarkets - but un-green DWB has very unselfishly been and gone leaving earth where a concrete path used to blot the landscape. (the concrete will be recycled to fill the potholes on the track. )

She's very strong, there's no way I could have done that in just 3 hours. Pics to follow.

Thanks, Jaqy - it looks amazing!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Work in progress:

(Notice I'm holding the camera and Jaqi the breaker thingummy)

 

[Penners]

is it fair for, say, 20% to oppose a new superstore that 80% of people would use given a choice? 20% denying the choice of the 80%? Or, in the context of PPUK, 80% of taxpayers paying to preserve historical buildings that only 20% care anything about? Not easy.

Indeed not. The problem is that it's not simply a matter of polling opinion at a moment in time. If you ask the Man on the Clapham Omnibus for his vote, he's likely to be one of your postulated 80% who would choose not to finance the preservation of ancient architecture.

But if you were later to ask him how he felt about the built environment, now that all of the old buildings had gone, I wonder what he would say.

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well said Mr P.

Yes Joce, Roxy's shop is called Royston's Deli. It's in the middle of the main shopping street. 80% of what they sell is food that they cook themselves, sourcing local and organic where possible, but they also sell foreign stuff. You won't find better truffle oil, olive oil, chocolate and coffee (single estate, organic, fairtrade, of course), balsamic vinegar (the genuine article), salami (Spanish is best) and anchovies. I like the anchovies; no, not the ones in tins of salt, but whole fish in olive oil.

If you shop at Royston's expect to have a chat, discuss the weather or your latest operation, have a cup of coffee, live life as if quality counts.

I think I'll come over next week; I'd enjoy the autumn drive. The shop, and Louth, sound delightful - and I've never been, despite growing up only 35 miles away.

 

[Penners]

Notice I'm holding the camera and Jaqi the breaker thingummy

Would that fall into the category of 'horses for courses'? :wink:



No equine similarity is intended or should be inferred from the above question.

 

[Tom]

Well, that's a pretty strong entry for most smug, sanctimonious and selfish post of the year. Outdoes Biff on every level.

Good. Now we have a balance

 

[Tom]

Not at all; Biff may occasionally be a bit of a scratched record, but he's sincere. And while he could be called sanctimonious at times, he's never been selfish, as DWB actually seems proud to be (but she's not listening anyway)

:lol: :lol: :lol: Yes, I AM selfish and I'm not scared to say so....so what? It's a choice thing, you see. Far better than a dictatorship.

 

[Tom]

(Notice I'm holding the camera and Jaqi the breaker thingummy)

Notice who's not wearing gloves, either :lol:

I had great fun today, Joce. I have nothing of my own to break at the moment, so it's filled my need to decimate concrete until I start on my drive and yard :lol: You must let me know Chris's reaction. See you soon

 

[Flyfisher]

Er, Jaqy, I don't remember writing that quote. :shock:

I'd be far too intimidated to criticise you having now seen you in action with that kango. :wink:
(Great job by the way).

 

[Flyfisher]

But if you were later to ask him how he felt about the built environment, now that all of the old buildings had gone, I wonder what he would say.

Well, I know what I'd like him to say but I wouldn't be confident. It's just the whole elitist 'we know best' thing that makes me feel uncomfortable. Also, the trouble with nostalgia is that it's very selective and a yearning for simpler times tends to ignore the harder and less privileged times that went with them.

If I'm honest with myself, I would not want to swap my time for some mythical 'good old days'. I'm quite happy, indeed privileged, to have lived during a time of unparalleled prosperity, to have benefited from a high level of education, including free university (very topical!), able to develop a career in a clean and intellectually-stimulating environment and travelling around the world to work on state-of-the-art projects, not to mention holidays, then to retire in good health to actively pursue personal interests safe in the knowledge that I can call on free, world-class healthcare and (hopefully) enjoy an historically high life-expectancy (well, on average). I can't think of anything in the 'good old days' that could have offered all that, unless born into an incredibly wealthy family.

Unsurprisingly, people want the best of all worlds, past and present, but the reality is there is always the rough to be taken with the smooth. My contention is that more people live smoother lives today than at any other time in history. That's not to say it's perfect by any means, just far better in the round.

Having said that, 'dumbing down' is certainly worrying, but then we're back to the issue of elitism and who decides what is of value. Still, as Stephen Hawking (I believe) has remarked, 'intelligence is overrated as an evolutionary mechanism', or words to that effect. Bacteria haven't been held back from becoming the most numerous life-forms on the planet through lack of intelligence. :wink:

Perhaps we really are all doomed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSROlfR7WTo

Of course, that link is just fiction. It couldn't really happen, could it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVtjcG0PYg

 

[philpjuk100]

Went to Louth a few weeks ago,had lunch in the covered market followed by brownies from roystons,interesting place but we do our weekly shop at the grantham ASDA,its not really out of town,as the wife does the trolly thing I walk through the town doing the farmers market antique shop etc.Even at the supermarket the weekly shop still takes 2.5 hours plus,this is all time out of the workshop.The shop done at the small town shops would take far longer and cost more.This is probably partly my fault as I have still not fixed her car and she refuses to drive my landrover!phil.

 

[biffvernon]

Hmmm...nice label on the wellies.

 

[Tom]

Er, Jaqy, I don't remember writing that quote. :shock:

Sorry, FF. Too busy with my snipping. I've corrected it now

I'd be far too intimidated to criticise you having now seen you in action with that kango. :wink:
(Great job by the way).

:lol: Yes, be afraid...be very afraid :lol: :twisted:

It was a very enjoyable day. We had a laugh, got creative and burned calories. What more could you want?

 

[Flyfisher]

I just hope Chris wasn't too upset about his missing concrete path. :lol:

 

[Tom]

Hmmm...nice label on the wellies.

Thank you They're Hunter's 'Huntress' and cost me £55. Only 2 days old, though, so still looking a bit bright. My last pair sprung a leak but had been worn almost every day for about 2 years. And before you deride me for buying them, this pair were NOT made in the Far East. They were made in Scotland; characterised by the lack of a seam in the lining and by the white label underneath (not that that will last for long).

You were being nice, weren't you.....? :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

Are you sure about the 'made in Scotland' claim?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Boot_Ltd[/u]"]Hunter Boot Ltd enjoyed a record season in summer 2007 announcing, in August, an 85% sales increase against the same period in 2006.[21][22] Despite this, Hunter remained faced with major financial challenges regarding production. High manufacturing and fuel costs that contributed to the company's move into administration in 2006 remained prominent and, like many UK manufacturing businesses, Hunter was forced to consider whether it was commercially viable to keep making boots in the UK. The company also had to negotiate a volatile relationship with its landlord and an expensive and inefficient 96-year-old factory. Eventually, alternative supply sources were sought and developed in Europe and the Far East and plans were made to exit the Dumfries plant and relocate the company HQ to Edinburgh.[23] This move was finally made in September 2008. The Chinese made gumboots are visually identical to the original Scottish made gumboots apart from the addition of an internal seam. Some manufacturing efficiencies have also been made including the removal of the latex dipping process.

Personally, I favour Le Chameau, particularly the neoprene-lined boots. Marvellous in cold weather.

Of course, they're all the result of imperial exploitation and plundering . . . .

 

[Schoolmarm]

I shop in asda and steadfastly refuse to shop in tesco except for once or twice yearly emergency type dashes.


I never thought about asda taking our money OUT of the country. I just try and buy "carefully " whilst in there. Local stuff or at least from the uk.
I buy quite a lot from the co-op and could probably do without asda.

If Biff didn't keep me on my toes I would still be doing stuff wrong.Thanks Biff. 8) My children will hopefully reap the benefits. And everyone else's friends' children.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Idiocracy!! I love that film and oh how true it is in Bolton. Can't say anymore than that lol! It would offend any readers living in social/council housing.

 

[Pford75]

I had great fun today, Joce. I have nothing of my own to break at the moment, so it's filled my need to decimate concrete until I start on my drive and yard

Very impressed having seen the pics - if you are both yearning for some demolition, you'd be welcome down here in Norfolk. I'm sure I could find something for you to demolish.....ladies and large power tools....phew....am I the only one?

 

[Flyfisher]

I was only recently made aware of Idiocracy by a friend but it seemed an apt reference. Looks like if global warming doesn't get us then idiocracy may.

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