Ops-Normal.org

My choice would be Joshua Slocum the first man to sail solo around the World.

His book 'Sailing Alone Around the World ' is a masterpiece of travel writing and sits on my shelves as I write this.

First chemo/immunotherapy session finished. 4 hours.

Cooked one of my favourite dishes this evening: spaghetti alle vongole. So simple, so very tasty!

Also turned down a repeat engagement to lecture at Cambridge. Snobby lot.

Back I April saw an adder swimming in a woodland pond while out dog following. Interesting. No doubt feeding on young frogs. Back in the Phil's, our place backed on to a creek and the occasional snake made it into the gardens. Many did not survive long as one of the dogs, Blackie, had taken on the R...

Poor Alison. Hugs and condolences.

Myf 2009 - 2022

We focus on the two dates but that little "-" holds a lifetime of friendship and memories and is far, far more important.

Alison, glad hound has recovered appetite. As others have suggested, it's not unusual for older dogs to lose their appetite for a while. The fact that she was alert and walking around normally are good indicators. As you say, she had gained a bit of weight recently. Perhaps she just wanted to get he...

If it was a deliberate act (and why wouldn't it be?) to hit the ammo convoy whilst it was on the bridge, that would appear to be some superb intel (knowing the nature, route and speed of the convoy) combined with excellent artillery skills. Most impressive!

Barring a total collapse of the Russian ground forces, I do not see a victory for Ukraine before Christmas. I wish it were different. At the moment, it seems that on the ground, Ukraine has seized a slight initiative. They are using their longer range artillery, rocket systems etc to degrade Russian...

Last weekend, family business meant I had to drive down to Brighton, stay overnight and then head to Cornwall to see ancient pater. For company, I took Sproglette Senior. Duty done, we headed back to Norfolk and decided on the A303 as Sproglette Senior expressed a wish to see this well known World H...

Since we returned to the UK nearly 9 years ago both Sproglettes have been playing football for a local club. One was in the Academy and is now trading to be a referee. So, as you can imagine, last night was quite noisy at casa Pharter! Very even match. Naibiting finish and no quarter given by either...

Had a very pleasant light lunch with Señora Lars's at a local hostelry today. 'Twas on the banks of the river and the ducks and geese made a pleasant backdrop.

A car in the car park had the registration MI55 FCK. No idea of the owner claimed a tax deduction as an advertising expense.

I read that the autopsy report states that the shooter was hit 8 times from a distance of 40 yards. Other reports state that 10 rounds were fired in about 15 seconds and that the hand gun was a Glock (I assume a Glock 19 as it was a concealed carry). If this information is true, this was a remarkabl...

My first thought was a small country and Vatican City, San Marino and Liechtenstein came to mind. On second thoughts, I guessed that one pick pocket crime in the Vatican ( pop 500 approx) would put it as one of the highest crime places per capita in the World. Much the same for San Marino. Liechtens...

We too have a Black Labrador (female) known to the family, affectionately, as the 'silly black bitch. She is an ex service dog ( worked with autistic children) and is of the 'chunky' persuasion. Today, she had her morning walk shortly after dawn and had a couple of good soakings with the garden hose...

"Chaos in Italy".

Situation normal.

There's been a lot in the press recently about delays at the Passport Office.

Six days ago I made an online application for renewal of Sproglette Senior's passport; her first adult passport. Supporting documents also mailed.

New passport arrived today. Six days. Pretty good.

NATO, per se, has no exit strategy. The USA is probably quite happy, in a strategic sense, to see the RF taken out of the equation as a conventional force and at little cost in treasure or US loves. The major European players in NATO would probably be content enough with a cessation of hostilities a...

Thank you boing for expressing my point far more eloquently than I.

But then, I can at least claim brevity as only used one sentence!

The cynic in me whispers in my ear that this is a proxy war between the USA and the rump of the USSR in order to reduce Russian conventional capability to near zero while the USA focuses on what it believes to be the current existential threat: China.

And the pale horse is waiting in the stable for its rider to show up.