Ever since I was a young boy...

I had a lovely early ride out on Morrigan this morning, up and over the hills of the Five Valleys near Stroud. Over the commons (past huge wide-horn cattle on Rodmarton common) and home in time for breakfast. But lovely as she is, the machine that's done most to protect my sanity during lockdown as been Jackbot...

I got introduced to pinball proper at Bristol Polytechnic (what is now the University of the West of England) in about 1980, when I was doing my first Diploma (marine telecommunications, distinction). The students union bar had a table in the corner - 10p per game, and 25p per pint of Butcombe Best ( a relatively new pint then). I never lost the love. For either thing.

I worked on pinball machines, as well as snooker and pool tables, fruit machines and the like, in the mid-eighties before I got a proper job with the CEGB. Over the years I played a lot of virtual pinball on iPads and desktop computers, and last year I bought a real one. There is no comparison.

So, really, this is a 2000 blips, blip. Believe me when I say I had to play hard to get just the right score... After all, it would be cheating to take the glass off and prod the right targets, eh. Thank you Blip, and thank you blippers, for all the fun of the daily photographic journal. You putting up with me is very appreciated. :-)