Did you know.....

... that today is World's Largest Immigrant Day? On this day in 1885, the State of Liberty, a gift from France, arrived in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic in 350 pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy. 

Tum Hi Ho / Mad World - Penn Masala

End of May - Nautical bits!!

Well the last couple of weeks have been dominated by things nautical!
Staring off with the visit by 'The Three Queens' to Liverpool to mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Cunard company in Liverpool.
The city of Liverpool and it's surrounding areas, I have no problem with the term 'Bay area' by the way, is jam packed full of people that blatantly have salt water in their veins and most (!) of them were out on Monday. It was great to see so many people out and although the weather was a tad grey - great fun was had by all!

Nicki's Dad was a VIP guest of Cunard at 'Home' at Woodside which had been commandeered by the company because it was and still is, LOL!, almost immediately opposite the iconic Cunard building, only problem is that the 12 Quays development prevents a good view along the river.
The reason I am telling you all that is because of the irony of him having to ring his daughter and I who were in the cheap seats, so to speak by Seacombe ferry to ask if we could see the ships on their way!! Which we could!!

Another slight irony was that the filming of the event for the online streaming was done from Seacombe, the programme content full of things like, This is the Liverpool waterfront and Welcome to Liverpool..... for future reference broadcasters, that was the Wirral where you were!!! The only place in the world from which you can see the Liverpool waterfront World Heritage site, properly!!

Me Mum would have been horrified at the non nautical phrases being bandied about though! Things like parking boats on the right side facing the front......

Another source of amusement to the smart assed side of Wilko News concerned the red arrows, who had never mentioned anything other than a fly past. Which they did!  The skilfully manoeuvred three mighty ships in line with the Cunard building across the river, just in time for the flypast which was performed on their way to a display in Blackpool with supreme accuracy and efficiency!
It must be noted however that we didn't ring Nicki's Dad to see whether they were lined up properly!!
Fly past Liverpool - display Blackpool - seems straight forward enough to me!! However more than 50% of the crowd local to us had different interpretations of those two phrases.
"Of course, they will be back.... they always do a display."
"Yeah up to Blackpool and then display on way back."

Fact one..... Cunard were paying for that flypast, a very substantial four figure sum, they were not paying for a public display.
Fact two.... Displays over cities have been completely disallowed since 9-11.
Fact three.... The Red Arrows logistically could not do those two displays back to back because geographically there was nowhere to refuel as John Lennon airport was closed to additional traffic because of the helicopter movements..... why? Oh that'll be to do with the visit of the 3 Queens!!

Some people did get a good pic of the Arrows.... oh and a seagull!!

So then it was Southampton and P & O's flagship Britannia in its maiden season.

Well I ran out of superlatives and words to generally describe this amazing ship very very quickly! Probably about 20 minutes or so after I first saw it or about 5.35am on a Saturday morning!! In fact by the time Mr Grumpy Gateman had told me it was too early to take photos of her!! WTF doesn't come close to what I thought about that!!! 

In disgust I took a pic through the mirror on the end of his little hut!!

Fortunately Mr Happy Gateman in his little hut 40 yards away wasn't affected by the same personality disorder!

Everything about ships of her genre has probably already been written but a floating luxurious five star hotel doesn't really cover it!! 

Knee deep carpet in the passenger sections and bare metal and no false ceilings to cover the pipes and wiring in the crew section, that may be closer to the truth.

Two words in the English language that crop up everywhere and you would never see at one time and now are over used and usually together are logistics and solutions! 

Here are some logistics to which P & O or put more precisely Carnival Corp Plc have had to come up with solutions for, with specific reference to MV Britannia. Food and drink for 3,500 passengers and 1500 crew for a 14 day cruise. 

24 hour customer service for all the fully inclusive, full board passengers. Disembarking all the passengers by 10am and embarking the same number by 5pm on any given Saturday in Southampton. Entertaining/keeping passengers occupied - all the time. Ensuring that they get every passenger to spend every last penny they have while on board... photographs, souvenirs and shore trips to name a mere few......... They have succeeded and the whole experience leads to seamless luxury and a fantastic time had by all. 

But enough of all that this ship is fantastic from every aspect!! I know we only visited for a couple of hours but in that time thanks to our tour guide - Wilko News team member and member of entertainment team on board, Matt, >>>>>>> one half of Matt and Sarah, duo extra ordinaire we got a terrific insight in to the workings of the ship and its passengers (and crew)! 

Meanwhile Sarah and Nicki had a photocall on one of the upper decks..........  

The ship is just pure splendour and very relaxed, the atmosphere is one conducive to luxury holidaying and 100% enjoyment.
Dimensionally she is big in every respect. Far too big close up but not big enough from a distance - especially when it's early!!
Theatres, live venues, a pub and restaurants that would be at home in a medium sized town and an air of pride and professionalism that any local authority would be proud of.
Would I cruise on her? Well I just might!! Would I go on board her again, oh yes! 
One final thing.... not about Britannia but about Southampton. For all it's protestations this Hampshire city makes about Liverpool wanting to be a final destination for the major cruise companies, it really has very little to offer the non passenger. No clear uninterrupted views from the water side or quayside unless the ships are arriving or departing and looking a little bit closer the Ocean terminal is a fine building - worthy of a classy port or even airport but as for the old port quays that give Southampton the extra capacity they look a bit ropey. No actually a lot ropey!





So Britannia left but we also witnessed quite a few more nautical bits as shown here.

AND MANY MANY MORE!!!!

Weekend Supplement!!

Time to do a bit of proper blogging! Saying just like the old days makes me feel old but yes "Just like the old days!" 
You may not even know this but as Wilko News we have been here since time immemorial and yes in hard copy. 
Wait for this, youngest son was at Disneyland, Paris and eldest son was in the RAF!!
WOW!! 

Wilko News was a monthly hard copy newsletter to keep everybody in the family in touch with the goings on of the others and yes it did have a wonderful full colour calendar free, every month!!

Ok what shall we do in the here and now then as Facebook has taken most of the communication problems away? As well as creating a few, I might add!!

I think a weekly update with quotes, maybe little vids and mainly other people's pics from the world wide webby thing, along with some quirkiness (but of course!) and links to navigate around the world outside our very own little bubble!!

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.

Aldous Huxley

Two related, we'll call them 'work quirks' which I want to tell you about.... First, the swallow, the bird as opposed to anything else!!

The swallow battles all the elements and flies over 2 thousand miles with its family to return to a nest it may have made up to four years ago, halfway across a continent, a truly wonderful story of true courage in the bird world and hats off to all swallows for doing that!!
However after this incredible journey, how is it that each and every one of them then struggle to fly in a straight line down a 6 foot wide corridor without having a close encounter with a human being!!
The second is to do with the humans that I work around!! These are the cleverest men and women in the entire world they cure sick animals, rebuild animals that have been injured, all have letters after their name, are Doctors and professors of everything - animal connected - work to cure diseases in zoo animals, speak around the world on subjects that you and I have never heard of and did I mention can't tell plastic from paper or glass from plastic when it comes to recycling!!

This is a picture of the Royal Princess in Liverpool last week.

She is the 13th largest cruise ship in the world, which is quite impressive.

Next weekend in Southampton we shall see Britannia which is, 

by a mere few inches and a couple of tons, 12th largest cruise ship in the world! 

Queen Mary 2 is in Liverpool Sunday/Monday as part of Cunard's 175th anniversary.

Queen Mary 2 is 9th largest cruise ship in the world.

So now you know!!

This pic >>>>> is one of the latest to be posted on Pixel Rainbow, a sister blog to this featuring only the best of my photies, click
    >>>HERE<<< 
Now also featuring exclusive poetry, art and photographs from our partner (in more ways than one!) site - 
Poetic Pics. For the work in progress website click here and the Facey page here! In the meantime here is a Poetic Pic - prices start from £12, A4 print in a frame - 

Hey have you seen Lion King? Well isn't it one of the best films you've ever seen? Go on admit it!!

Anyway on Facebook on a Saturday I post a vid from you tube for my woman!!

Today I posted Elton John and you can see it by pressing anywhere in this sentence!!

Finally, for now, a reminder of the other very important new member of the group!!

Milly Says 

There is no charge for love and understanding......

Back in the days of Wilko News, I posted this but I just think that it is about time I posted it again........

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. "How much?" asked the little boy. "No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

Poetic Pics launches new Facebook page - full details at Pixel Rainbow, just click anywhere below!!

Have you seen what's going on over on Pixel Rainbow with its new partner site - Poetic Pics? 
It isn't half good!!

Bruce Springsteen- The Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" - (Sydney, 02/19/14)

A different sort of cover of the Easybeats, Friday on My Mind, You will love it or loathe it!!!

Latest news in the Wilko camp.....

>>>>Over here<<<<

Milly sings!!

This is Milly singing away to the Coronation Street theme!

Well done Milly and congratulations to our very own Nicki for her debut movie on You Tube!!



Hope you both remember me when you are rich and famous!!

PRIDE...... What it's all about!!

MARCH 10th.

March 10th is to become a 'Proud to be a Dad' Day!! Well in my household anyway!!

As a Dad I every reason to be immensely proud of my two boys, every single day but I am making March 10th Wilko boy pride day!!

In honour of this special occasion I would ask all my friends and family to spend a pound in Wilkos today..... No I am jesting!!


On this day in 1998 at the ever so young age of 17, Tim #1 son joined the RAF!! I remain to this day so very proud of his achievements in his 10 year career with the Royal Air Force and what he has done with his life since with his battles with health issues but more importantly in his personal life how he has become a wonderful husband and father.

So back to March 10th and bang up to date. Today sees #2 son Matt on board the newest cruise ship and the largest in the UK cruise market, Britannia. The tremendous and amazing ship that is being named by the Queen today at her home port of Southampton. This is his and his fiancee's first ever cruise ship contract and they have the priveledge of making their first proper cruise with P and O the maiden voyage of this awesome ship! 

Both these events make me extremely proud of both of them and the calendar simply enhances the date forever to be a day full of pride for my Wilko boys!!