.....the road to hell............

I left home at 14.10 yesterday....and got back home at 17.15 today. In that time I have driven 295.2 miles, been for an Indian meal.....slept a bit......and attended a funeral.

Went to bed last night at Dad's....in what is possibly the World's most uncomfortable bed.

At 4.30 Dad woke me to ask if it was time to get up and get ready for the funeral!

Sent him back to bed....and then dozed fitfully until about 8.00. Got up to find Dad at the table dressed and ready to go apart from jacket and tie.

Had some breakfast and went to get changed.....came out of the bedroom ready to go.....to find Dad still in the same spot. He couldn't find a black tie....so we found a grey one.....he couldn't fasten his top button so I did it for him. Eventually he was ready and we set off at 9.55.....after another 10 minutes lost looking for door keys.

Got onto the A19....27 miles to go......flew along....got close and started to look for the A138....there isn't one ........but there is an A183....but we missed the turn off.............and then there was a pile up....and the police closed all the exits off the road. So we ended up driving all the way to Newcastle....getting off the A19 and heading along a minor road to Sunderland....it's 20 years since I last drove in Sunderland....we eventually found a road taking us back to the A19 and got on 9 miles south of the turn off we wanted!...........flew back up and as the police were clearing the road in front of us we managed to turn off onto the A183.

We arrived at the funeral 15 minutes late....which was noticeable as there were only my sister, uncle, two cousins, a cousin's husband and daughter and an aunt twice removed attending.

The service was as nice as these things can be....but the graveside was bloody freezing, with a wind howling off the North Sea.....sandwiches and tea/coffee to follow....then whipped Dad back home.....and drove back here in the most foul weather imaginable!

Got home exhausted and really grumpy....after effects of a stressful day.....and then found out we had a bare four for the quiz team so no chance of crying off.

We lost....and I got a bit heated when the question master tried to give the opposition a point for the answer "Duke of Kent" when the answer was Prince Michael of Kent! He obviously didn't realise they are two different people but thought his team were "close enough"

Here's a few for you to try:
1. In which war was the battle of Pork Chop Hill fought?
2. In which war was the battle of Hamburger Hill fought?
3. Kakadu is a National Park in which commonwealth country?
4. Kookaburra are an Australian firm making spports equipment for Cricket and which other team sport?
5. Who was Emperor of Rome at the time of Jesus' birth?
6. Who was Emperor of Rome at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain?
7. Who played the role of Jack Carter in the remake of the classic Michael Caine film "Get Carter"?
8.In the theatre what are the British equivalents of the Tony's?
9. Which battle was known, in the Zulu language, as Kwa Jim?
10. Which battle was known to the indigenous peoples who fought in it as the Battle of the Greasy Grass?


Das vidanya moy padruga.












Answers
1. Korean war
2. Vietnam war
3. Australia
4. Hockey
5. Tiberius
6. Claudius
7. Sylvester Stallone
8.Olivier's
9. Rorke's Drift
10. Little Big Horn