Polish Vodka? Part the Second.
Posted by: u5227470736789439 on 01 December 2008
The old thread was a deal of great fun for me, and as I am having a Birthday Party this weekend, I had hoped to revitalise the old Thread, which may be found here:
Polish Vodka?
Now consigned to being history, it still has much warmth and humanity in it, and hopefully we can carry on talking about such wonderous moments as we did then in this thread from now on!
ATB from George
Polish Vodka?
Now consigned to being history, it still has much warmth and humanity in it, and hopefully we can carry on talking about such wonderous moments as we did then in this thread from now on!
ATB from George
Posted on: 09 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Dear Peter,
I have the double DVD with William Walton's music contained on the second one. I have never managed to yet work the menus to get to it, as it came a week before my DVD replay died three years ago [and have only had replay agin since Wednesday], but certainly the way Walton was treated in that instance was very shoddy. Of course Goodwin wrote a suitable score and the "Battle in the Air," was retained from Walton's own score, which is historically nice.
Walton also wrote the film music for the "First Of The Few," about the creation of the first Spitfire by RJ Miitchell, woreking at Vickers Supermarine. That film was I believe made in 1942, and the DVD and VHS issues of it contained an interview with Mitchell's son who contextualised the film very neatly.
Another favourite film sound track I like very much [from Malcolm Arnold] was "Whistle Down The Wind." I love great film scores!
ATB from George
I have the double DVD with William Walton's music contained on the second one. I have never managed to yet work the menus to get to it, as it came a week before my DVD replay died three years ago [and have only had replay agin since Wednesday], but certainly the way Walton was treated in that instance was very shoddy. Of course Goodwin wrote a suitable score and the "Battle in the Air," was retained from Walton's own score, which is historically nice.
Walton also wrote the film music for the "First Of The Few," about the creation of the first Spitfire by RJ Miitchell, woreking at Vickers Supermarine. That film was I believe made in 1942, and the DVD and VHS issues of it contained an interview with Mitchell's son who contextualised the film very neatly.
Another favourite film sound track I like very much [from Malcolm Arnold] was "Whistle Down The Wind." I love great film scores!
ATB from George
Posted on: 09 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
That Carlton is like riding downhill even when going up one! And 20 odd mile an hour is gentle work on top gear ...
Amazing bike. I shall be surprised if I do not get very fast on it! Probably kill myself ...
I am not sure the posh bike shop was so terribly happy to see it, and supply me with a pump. I suspwct they realise that such an owner is not a very likely customer for something else!
C'est la vie!
ATB from George
Amazing bike. I shall be surprised if I do not get very fast on it! Probably kill myself ...
I am not sure the posh bike shop was so terribly happy to see it, and supply me with a pump. I suspwct they realise that such an owner is not a very likely customer for something else!
C'est la vie!
ATB from George
Posted on: 09 January 2009 by pjl
George,
I love Ron Goodwin's music, and his score for Battle of Britain is full of heroic pomp in the same way as his scores for 633 Squadron and Where Eagles Dare. Walton's score is quite a contrast, being much more reflective IMO and with much of Goodwin's pomp replaced by a deep sense of sadness which evokes feelings of the futility and loss of life involved in war. Incidentally, Malcolm Arnold's score for The Sound Barrier is also superb, as is the film, about the development of the jet engine and supersonic flight. I have a great fondness for 50's and 60's British films! Glad you are pleased with the new bike!
Regards,
Peter
I love Ron Goodwin's music, and his score for Battle of Britain is full of heroic pomp in the same way as his scores for 633 Squadron and Where Eagles Dare. Walton's score is quite a contrast, being much more reflective IMO and with much of Goodwin's pomp replaced by a deep sense of sadness which evokes feelings of the futility and loss of life involved in war. Incidentally, Malcolm Arnold's score for The Sound Barrier is also superb, as is the film, about the development of the jet engine and supersonic flight. I have a great fondness for 50's and 60's British films! Glad you are pleased with the new bike!
Regards,
Peter
Posted on: 11 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Just found bottom cog on the bike! It is so light that though it is rather a long bottom gear, standing on it really allows a fast ascent even on a one in five bamk. Grand. And it is so strong against torshional flexibility in its reaction to stress on the pedals. Makes the Eagle seem like a bag of rubber snakes as far as handling goes.
I put some lights on it to comply with the law ready for a return to work in the morning! Are reflectors still a legal requirement? There are none. In fact apart from lights there is no non-essential weight at all.
Will arrange a photo soon ...
ATB from George
I put some lights on it to comply with the law ready for a return to work in the morning! Are reflectors still a legal requirement? There are none. In fact apart from lights there is no non-essential weight at all.
Will arrange a photo soon ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
"...torshional flexibility"
Hi Fredrik,
That looks like the Polish Vodka effect!!!
Dear Frank,
I have now found my reading glasses, which had slipped through the seat on the car and since emerged on the floor, so now I can start using a dictionary again, unstead of stabbing at words phonetically when in doubt!
As you know it is claimed that Polish spelling is phonetic! That is a very funny assertion, I think, as there are that many sounds for sh, ssh, sch, ch, and so on, plus the options with zed and a consonant before it are mind boggling, let alone the subtle variations in the actual Polish zed sound with different accents!!!
I am even getting confused about basic English spelling sometimes now, because of it!
ATB from George
Hi Fredrik,
That looks like the Polish Vodka effect!!!
Dear Frank,
I have now found my reading glasses, which had slipped through the seat on the car and since emerged on the floor, so now I can start using a dictionary again, unstead of stabbing at words phonetically when in doubt!
As you know it is claimed that Polish spelling is phonetic! That is a very funny assertion, I think, as there are that many sounds for sh, ssh, sch, ch, and so on, plus the options with zed and a consonant before it are mind boggling, let alone the subtle variations in the actual Polish zed sound with different accents!!!
I am even getting confused about basic English spelling sometimes now, because of it!
ATB from George
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Certainly there is something in that. After a certain time enjoying Wodka they sound much better, and easier to both understand and say!
Haha!
Haha!
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Bikey Pictures
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Nice, isn't it?
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Detail!
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Nice old thing though. A proper antique!
It is a Carlton Kermesse.
ATB from George
It is a Carlton Kermesse.
ATB from George
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Now I have ridden the bike in the heat of the traffic going to work and back, the saddle is strangely quite comfortable, though the whole bike would not be much fun if the rider was not quite fit. It is a bike that naturally tends to make you want to stand on the pedals rather than amble. In fact it is not much use at ambling. It seems to be okay on the ice though. No worse than any other bike.
Coming home I really stood on it and certainly have never got a bike going so fast before. I was keeping with the traffic on the straight [slightly uphaill] part of Bromwich Road, and this was certainly moving at thirty plus mph.
Though the tyres look spindly, with 100 psi in them, they seem to ride chippings and joins in the tarmac surprisingly well. Again no worse than any bike with normal sized tyres, if not so good as the MTB tyres on the Eagle.
The brakes at first gave lttle confidence, but after I got the hang of hauling a little harder than the vee brakes on the Eagle, it was quite easy to raise the back wheel, so they are good enough.
Terribly pleased with the old thing. Next step is build myself up after a couple of lazy months using the car to go to work, and attempt a decent trip like the 26 miles to Hereford, which has some fairly scary and long hills along the way to add into the equation!
Now all I need is another nut-case to go on properly long cycle rides with!
ATB from George
PS: I probably looked like a proper sketch on such a nice bike wearing an old coat and flat cap, with my trousers tucked down my socks!!!
PPS: I compared it to the racing BSA that is left, sadly unloved, in our dry storage shed. The BSA looks bigger but mine is curiously actually longer from saddle post to handlebar, while being an inch lower in the crossbar, which suits me with my long arms and relatively short legs. The BSA is probaly twice as heavy, which can only be based on the weight of the frame as in respect of fittings and wheels they are almost the same.
Coming home I really stood on it and certainly have never got a bike going so fast before. I was keeping with the traffic on the straight [slightly uphaill] part of Bromwich Road, and this was certainly moving at thirty plus mph.
Though the tyres look spindly, with 100 psi in them, they seem to ride chippings and joins in the tarmac surprisingly well. Again no worse than any bike with normal sized tyres, if not so good as the MTB tyres on the Eagle.
The brakes at first gave lttle confidence, but after I got the hang of hauling a little harder than the vee brakes on the Eagle, it was quite easy to raise the back wheel, so they are good enough.
Terribly pleased with the old thing. Next step is build myself up after a couple of lazy months using the car to go to work, and attempt a decent trip like the 26 miles to Hereford, which has some fairly scary and long hills along the way to add into the equation!
Now all I need is another nut-case to go on properly long cycle rides with!
ATB from George
PS: I probably looked like a proper sketch on such a nice bike wearing an old coat and flat cap, with my trousers tucked down my socks!!!
PPS: I compared it to the racing BSA that is left, sadly unloved, in our dry storage shed. The BSA looks bigger but mine is curiously actually longer from saddle post to handlebar, while being an inch lower in the crossbar, which suits me with my long arms and relatively short legs. The BSA is probaly twice as heavy, which can only be based on the weight of the frame as in respect of fittings and wheels they are almost the same.
Posted on: 16 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Very funny, Pan Farrel!
If you note how flat the saddle is, if I sit on it the bones in my bottom make contact long before any serious pressure on what I left in Malaga!
With 501 Reynolds frame and forkes the bike is so light that stopping at the traffic lights is quite a manoevre! To reach the brakes requires learning right forward, which is good for speed, but less good for balance when stopping. Braking on the front wheel alone is hopless, as with the the centre of gravity right forward the back wheel is most likely to hop. I am getting the hang of it though!
ATB from George
If you note how flat the saddle is, if I sit on it the bones in my bottom make contact long before any serious pressure on what I left in Malaga!
With 501 Reynolds frame and forkes the bike is so light that stopping at the traffic lights is quite a manoevre! To reach the brakes requires learning right forward, which is good for speed, but less good for balance when stopping. Braking on the front wheel alone is hopless, as with the the centre of gravity right forward the back wheel is most likely to hop. I am getting the hang of it though!
ATB from George
Posted on: 17 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Last night saw an impromtu Wyberowa based Party at only three quaters of an hour notice!
Two grand Polish friends and one Wyborowa [0.7 litre] and one Smirnoff [1.0 litre], and we were set for a great evening/night of good comical conversation! We finished the juice, which ended the session just shy of the bottom of the second bottle. Smirnoff is not so nice as Wyborowa, even after an couple of hours ...
Just got home about an hour ago, and set to hit the hay!
One of my friends just went to work! With a small headache!
I also got completely drenched riding over on the Carlton, which has no mudguards and it was raining briefly in tropical fashion as I went! Haha, indeed! The return was easier though ...
Best wishes from George
Two grand Polish friends and one Wyborowa [0.7 litre] and one Smirnoff [1.0 litre], and we were set for a great evening/night of good comical conversation! We finished the juice, which ended the session just shy of the bottom of the second bottle. Smirnoff is not so nice as Wyborowa, even after an couple of hours ...
Just got home about an hour ago, and set to hit the hay!
One of my friends just went to work! With a small headache!
I also got completely drenched riding over on the Carlton, which has no mudguards and it was raining briefly in tropical fashion as I went! Haha, indeed! The return was easier though ...
Best wishes from George
Posted on: 17 January 2009 by Jim Lawson
Fantastic!
Cheers,
Jim
Cheers,
Jim
Posted on: 17 January 2009 by u5227470736789439
Dear Jim,
I fancy that a very quiet replay of two Haydn Symphonies will send me off to the land of nod!
Thinking of 92, the Oxford, which is currently becoming my favourite, though I have known it for thirty years without thinking so much of it, and the London. [104].
The reason for my growing enthusiasm for the Oxford is that recently I got a three CD set of Klemperer and the Philharmonia in eight symphonies picked somewhat randomly between 88 and 104, which were recorded [as was Klemperer's usual practice] in preparation for concerts [in London between 1960 and 1972]. What these wonderful recordings show is that Klemperer, that most respected master with Beethoven, was if anything an even greater master with Haydn! I have never come across such noble, warm, and humane performances of Haydn's music. For 10 GBP, I would recommend this brand new EMI set [released in November 2008] to anyone whether they know Haydn's music or not. These are performances to really draw the listener into the world of Haydn's genius.
The Oxford is simply an amazing performance and the London equally so, but also finds a significance in the music which propels it into the cosmic level of Beethoven. It is vigourous and muscular, and with every oportunity taken to play reapeats, it emerges at about thirty five minutes of music making, which is ten minutes longer than most recordings! These repeats are so welded into the structure [as Klemperer guides them] that it seems inconceivable that they could be ommited! Like Walcha in Bach's Goldbergs, the inclusion of every repeat is taken as a chance to bring the music out in so many different concurrent facets, and so clearly that it becomes emotionally involving in a way rarely hinted at in current Haydn performances from the HIP people who seem to be the fashion now ...
Dear Jim, thanks for your reply!
ATB from George
I fancy that a very quiet replay of two Haydn Symphonies will send me off to the land of nod!
Thinking of 92, the Oxford, which is currently becoming my favourite, though I have known it for thirty years without thinking so much of it, and the London. [104].
The reason for my growing enthusiasm for the Oxford is that recently I got a three CD set of Klemperer and the Philharmonia in eight symphonies picked somewhat randomly between 88 and 104, which were recorded [as was Klemperer's usual practice] in preparation for concerts [in London between 1960 and 1972]. What these wonderful recordings show is that Klemperer, that most respected master with Beethoven, was if anything an even greater master with Haydn! I have never come across such noble, warm, and humane performances of Haydn's music. For 10 GBP, I would recommend this brand new EMI set [released in November 2008] to anyone whether they know Haydn's music or not. These are performances to really draw the listener into the world of Haydn's genius.
The Oxford is simply an amazing performance and the London equally so, but also finds a significance in the music which propels it into the cosmic level of Beethoven. It is vigourous and muscular, and with every oportunity taken to play reapeats, it emerges at about thirty five minutes of music making, which is ten minutes longer than most recordings! These repeats are so welded into the structure [as Klemperer guides them] that it seems inconceivable that they could be ommited! Like Walcha in Bach's Goldbergs, the inclusion of every repeat is taken as a chance to bring the music out in so many different concurrent facets, and so clearly that it becomes emotionally involving in a way rarely hinted at in current Haydn performances from the HIP people who seem to be the fashion now ...
Dear Jim, thanks for your reply!
ATB from George
Posted on: 04 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
It is getting better every day!
Myself and another Polish friend, never mentioned here before, have just been accepted as tenants in a nice flat on Saint John's side of the Severn!
Saint Johns is on the Hereford side of the City and really has a much nicer feel to it for me as a rural Herefordian, as well. It is much closer to work, ...
So we shall have a proper Party, no doubt about it, before long.
The other thing is it is rather close to good friends, only a couple of minute walk from two of their houses. As my one housemate here said,
"The new Bermuda Triangle is born, based on sinking thinks with Wodka!"
ATB from George
Myself and another Polish friend, never mentioned here before, have just been accepted as tenants in a nice flat on Saint John's side of the Severn!
Saint Johns is on the Hereford side of the City and really has a much nicer feel to it for me as a rural Herefordian, as well. It is much closer to work, ...
So we shall have a proper Party, no doubt about it, before long.
The other thing is it is rather close to good friends, only a couple of minute walk from two of their houses. As my one housemate here said,
"The new Bermuda Triangle is born, based on sinking thinks with Wodka!"
ATB from George
Posted on: 04 February 2009 by pjl
George,
Congratulations on the new flat. Of course, you will now have a new listening room to evaluate and set-up your system in which should provide for many hours of interesting experimentation! When do you move in?
Peter
Congratulations on the new flat. Of course, you will now have a new listening room to evaluate and set-up your system in which should provide for many hours of interesting experimentation! When do you move in?
Peter
Posted on: 04 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
Hope that the first of March proves acceptable to the agent.
Could be a little earlier, but I hope not as there is double rent being paid till April the first ...
ATB from George
Could be a little earlier, but I hope not as there is double rent being paid till April the first ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 04 February 2009 by pjl
Gives you a little time to organise packing etc. anyway. Hope all goes smoothly for you.
Peter
Peter
Posted on: 05 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
Deposit paid, and arrangements confirmed by phone later!
Thank goodness for the good old fashioned cheque book! I hate cards! Of course they have their use but not in circumstances such as posting a deposit through an estate agency letter box before opening.
They must think I am quaint ...
ATB from George
Thank goodness for the good old fashioned cheque book! I hate cards! Of course they have their use but not in circumstances such as posting a deposit through an estate agency letter box before opening.
They must think I am quaint ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 05 February 2009 by pjl
George,
There is a lot to be said for "the old fashioned way", of attitudes and of life in general. I'm only 48 but I find that my thinking and approach to life is often seemingly out of step with the present. I think this is partly why I like old films from the 60's and 70's so much - they remind me of growing up when the world seemed to be a much nicer place. Sorry for the nostalgia, hope things continue to progress well for you.
Peter
There is a lot to be said for "the old fashioned way", of attitudes and of life in general. I'm only 48 but I find that my thinking and approach to life is often seemingly out of step with the present. I think this is partly why I like old films from the 60's and 70's so much - they remind me of growing up when the world seemed to be a much nicer place. Sorry for the nostalgia, hope things continue to progress well for you.
Peter
Posted on: 05 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
Dear Stu,
This is definately going to be an advance, and not the least this cold weather shows the inadequacy of this current house. Either waste a fortune on heating fuel or feel the cold. Being somewhat parsimonious [all of us!], we have selected the second option here!
ATB
This is definately going to be an advance, and not the least this cold weather shows the inadequacy of this current house. Either waste a fortune on heating fuel or feel the cold. Being somewhat parsimonious [all of us!], we have selected the second option here!
ATB
Posted on: 07 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
Said quietly, we had a a very excellent Party yesterday evening ... OMG ...
Posted on: 16 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
The pleasure of a first Monday on holiday!
I wandered off down to town earlier - I have to go out again shortly with a view to getting some things from Maplin's including a four-way Maplin multi-plug and so on ... No Powerlines here unfortunately.
But I walked the Carlton down to Lewis's, the cycle shop to get some handlebar tape. What a contrast to the posh bike shop by the Cathedral, where they regarded the ancient racer as a rusty embarrassment among their gleaming carbon fibre confections, and could barely bring themselves to talk to me! The old boy in Lewis's thought that the birthday cleaning of the old machine was a splendid effort, and his comment was,
"Look after it! They don't make them like that anyomore!"
He said he would get in the perfect tape for it, as it was better than the usual plastic stuff. He would get some traditional leather based tape ...
"Back or white?" he asked, and I opted for the black, because it would not show the sweat so much! He agreed, though officially it should be white for the model.
The sun shone with some warmth. Yes holiday has started! Wednesday sees me off to Frank F's for the rest of the week carrying a Fraim shelf, which surely would not survive the post, and so the weather will only be even nicer for me in the second half of the week!
ATB from George
I wandered off down to town earlier - I have to go out again shortly with a view to getting some things from Maplin's including a four-way Maplin multi-plug and so on ... No Powerlines here unfortunately.
But I walked the Carlton down to Lewis's, the cycle shop to get some handlebar tape. What a contrast to the posh bike shop by the Cathedral, where they regarded the ancient racer as a rusty embarrassment among their gleaming carbon fibre confections, and could barely bring themselves to talk to me! The old boy in Lewis's thought that the birthday cleaning of the old machine was a splendid effort, and his comment was,
"Look after it! They don't make them like that anyomore!"
He said he would get in the perfect tape for it, as it was better than the usual plastic stuff. He would get some traditional leather based tape ...
"Back or white?" he asked, and I opted for the black, because it would not show the sweat so much! He agreed, though officially it should be white for the model.
The sun shone with some warmth. Yes holiday has started! Wednesday sees me off to Frank F's for the rest of the week carrying a Fraim shelf, which surely would not survive the post, and so the weather will only be even nicer for me in the second half of the week!
ATB from George
Posted on: 16 February 2009 by u5227470736789439
My first dog, called Spot, aged 13 years!
1977 photo, taken with an Agfa Syncho-box.
ATB from George
1977 photo, taken with an Agfa Syncho-box.
ATB from George