Colonel Irrelevant

The Producers is one of my favourite films of all time. I love Mel Brooks’ work and Gene Wilder is always value for money. Now, remember back to the guy in the film who writes the script and breeds pigeons. I saw his twin today, riding a new, sporty BMW boxer (fancy swing arm, half [...]

In Coventry, the Borders store next to the Arena are having a launch party. One of the attractions (alongside reptiles and flying owls) is a film quiz hosted by Dan. Could this be Dan of ‘Is there food?’ fame? If you’ve not seen Dan’s site check it out at www.istherefood.com

Not something I eat often these days, but what a treat when I do. How can cheese on toast manage to taste so much better than a cheese sandwich or toastie? Today it is Hovis Best of Both Thick Sliced with Cathedral City Cheddar. Not the most exotic but incredibly satisfying.

We went to Eyam today which was like stepping back 25 years or so. Interesting stuff on the Plague and the general area. Anyway, the real recommendation is for Carsington Water. Really well organised visitor centre, with a good restaurant and a really fun play ground. There is a place renting bikes and boats and [...]

1) German bikers strutting their stuff in gang colours. Escorting their aged relative and looking hard yet compassionate and not a little embarrassed. 2) Czech check in staff 3) Czechs checking in at the Czech check in counter with Czech check in staff 4) Americans trying to be savvy about where they are despite not [...]

Oh yes. Czech beer is good. Slovakian beer is good. Try Golden Pheasant, Budweiser Budvar and Staropromen. Makes Budweiser taste like monkey water.

We Brits are a fairly private bunch and yet we are embracing the culture of the shared space at an indecent pace. Wandering through Europe I can see that they are retaining privacy on trains, in offices and in other public places. Take trains. I’m sure a Pendolino is a great train – fast, comfortable [...]

When I was a kid there was a programme on TV that showed you how kids in other countries lived. American kids saluted the flag, French kids smoked Gitanes, Russian kids polished ther=ir missiles, and, well you get the picture. And now The Colonel is happily wandering around Central Europe on a 3 day trip [...]

It seems that the longest distance you can travel in Europe is about 2 hours. Planes, trains or cars all seem to end after 2 hours for connections, changes or tiredness. It’s similar in the US where Cities always seem to be 2 hours apart regardless of proximity in terms of distance. Maybe there is [...]

What a lovely day and what a change. I even got the bike out for an hour of gratuitous noise and speed. I took kids to the park and the pictures (Shrek III) and generally had a great day made all the more pleasant by the sun appearing for the first time in months.