SHE WAS WORKING AS A WAITRESS IN A COCKTAIL BAR...

...well a barmaid at my local but it's as near as we get in rural North Yorkshire. She had green streaks in her hair, considerable bangers and a rusty MK1 Escort in police custody. Since then she has managed a retail home furnishing business, brought up two fine girls, can hold an equally in depth coversation about gear ratios or chickens and has generally kept me on the right path for 30 years. This is our Alioli and this week she was 50.

 

We had a blinding party, which she organised, a days recovery then a night in a swish hotel with a meal at Carluccios', which she paid for. All round quite a good egg x

 

 

LIFE'S A BEACH

 

 

 

What looks like it could be a warm summers day at the seaside is Scarborough midday yesterday, 2 degrees C (35 F) . 8 girls (Ellis second right) fortified with Amaretto and Baileys hot chocolate were about to run up to their necks in the sea for charity. They go to University and pay for tuition, materials, accommodation and travelling with large student loans then have to raise the money themselves for the end of year event to showcase their work. They also raised money for a local Hospice. Family and friends held towels, coats and alcohol while the local press couldn't be arsed to show up. There was some screaming.

TOMORROW

 

 

Watch out for those chickens.

ELLIS' LITTLE FROCK

Our Ellis is doing Costume Design and Manufacture at University and last night was the year end show. She made the costume in top pic, all hand sewn, and is in bottom photo in dark blue dress. Can you call something that takes nearly a year to make just a "dress".

ANOTHER 8 HOURS IN YORKSHIRE

Andy Thorntons, Rose Apothecary, Emm n' Charl, cake off and a big fat gypsy birthday.

FAMILIES

Phil's dad in 1953. Another man who appreciates the importance of shiny shoes.

Daughter Zac on Simon's Guzzi.

With chips Miss ?

JAMES

My nephew James had a pretty big bike accident yesterday and is currently in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney being put back together. Get well soon chap from everyone here.

ALIRALLI 2

Our Alioli on the Des Winks Trophy Rally at Wombleton airfield on a damp November in 1990. With Kate co-driving she went well before the gearbox tailshaft broke off late in the day.

ELLE'S FIRST TRIUMPH

A MAN CALLED HORSE

My nephew James in conjunction with our Jo and sis Helen has developed a phone app' for Cross Country and Eventing types. It is completely beyond me how such a thing is even possible never mind actually doing it. Are all techno types leaning towards insanity ? top photo James..


Sales are going well even though it has only been available for under a week. If you do horse and have an i phone (like you dont !) get it here and read what people say about it on the bible of face

T SHIRT GIRL RIDES OUT

First day at Uni today.

JO

Yesterday my sis Jo in Sydney had a major operation. Get back in the saddle soon girl x

ALIOLI'S BIRTHDAY

I get up at 6.00am to go to Rufforth Autojumble and sneak off, get back at 2.00pm to find she has bought my mother a mothers day present for tomorrow. The ring i bought her needed to be resized and the jewellers broke it so she only got a daffodil xx.
Spoilt.

AMSTERDAM BRUSH OFF

PARENTS

Ma and Pa before i was born which probably explains the happy demeanour

ALI'S ANGLIA

For a couple of years Ali had this 105E, it had a 1500GT motor, Classic struts and discs, the usual stuff. Fun little car but although it looked pretty on top underneath was getting too much like this weeks header photo so it had to go. I know when she sees this she will be wanting another..

JO

Jo my sis has been over in the UK for a few weeks, back to the warmth of Sydney next week. She hasnt worn the bikini this visit.

The Alfa belonged to a friend of my dad, cant really remember any details.

BUB, J, NAM AND WEASEL COFFEE

Bec and James have been touring round Vietnam on brakeless scooters, scruffy trains with shared sleeping quarters and dangerous looking grey planes with propellers and went with instructions to return with photos of each other eating deep fried Starlings and battered toads heads. Instead they have photos of beautiful sea food, beers at 10p, and beach huts within 30 metres of the sea.






But they did bring me some Weasel Coffee. Now sorting coffee beans isnt easy for a human but weasels know their shit (really) when it comes to a top notch bean. Nam man puts his pet weas' in with the beans, weasel sniffs out and eats only the best while his handler (probably called Mush Pong) follows round with a brush and shovel collecting the scrummy poo and using it to make the Princess Diana of ground coffee. It is the business in fact im having a cup now. Possibly not available in Waitrose though.

GOOD MORNING

Happy Birthday to our Bubster, just back from Vietnam. xx

MORE DAD CARS

Some more of the cars my dad rebuilt and restored mostly in the 60s/70s. Cant find any original photos of the XK120 and Healey 3000 but these are the colour and models of the ones he had.