Occulomency

Severe Weather in the Northern Rivers.

I suppose the chances of MacLean's Ridge flooding is pretty remote though eh?

Happy Satan's Birthday!

I read this in the Times today:

Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, motor sport's governing body, believes Lewis Hamilton’s effect on the popularity of Formula One has been exaggerated. Mosley also fears continued success for the Englishman might be “negative” for F1.

Max Mosley, 4th son of Oswold Mosley (leader of the British Union of Facists),is a silly arse.

Talking of which, a 1924 entry in Evelyn Waugh’s diary states that an English High Court judge presiding in a sodomy case sought advice on sentencing from Lord Birkenhead.

“Could you tell me,” he asked, “what do you think one ought to give a man who allows himself to be buggered?”

Birkenhead replied without hesitation, “Oh, 30 shillings or 2 pounds; whatever you happen to have on you.”

Fox Tower

The Fox Tower was built as part of a large estate for John Metcalf Carleton in 1775. Mr Carleton was an industrial entrepreneur who lived at Helbeck Hall, a Georgian Gothic style mansion he had built outside Brough. Little is left of his cotton mill.

The function of the Tower remains a puzzle, but it was probably built as folly for enjoying the splendid views across the Eden Valley an into Mallerstang.

The Tower is on private land, within the Warcop danger area, but can be seen at a distance from Brough Castle and the A66. Looking towards the Pennines from the Castle, The Tower is clearly visible amid the trees of Helbeck Wood on the rocky slopes of the fells.

I always wondered.

Anyway, it looks like Hamilton isn't going to be penalised for his, well lets say 'robust' driving behind the safety car last weekend. This video shows a quite different angle from the one that ITV showed.

And that picture, I think it may have been Spain at the Circuit de Catalunia, Barcelona. But it's just a guess. So, who, where, what was the engine?

Small towns think alike

I had a day out today, off to the wilds of Warwick. It's a nice town in Queensland's granite belt, quite old (founded in 1850 or so). It is possibly most famous for the 'Warwick incident' which precipitated the formation of the Australian Federal Police force.

On November 29th 1917, the Australian Prime Minister William Morris Hughes was addressing a crowd at Warwick railway station, when a man in the crowd threw an egg, knocking off the Prime Minister's hat.

The PM ordered him arrested, but in true Queensland style, the State police decided that they wouldn't as he wasn't speeding at the time.

The first commissioner for Commonwealth Police appointed eight days later.

Anyway, whilst visiting the hospital I took the following photo's of some plaques attached to the front of the building. I found them quite interesting.

Gympie

I spent yesterday in Gympie. Gympie is an old gold mining town situated  along the Bruce Highway on the Fraser Coast. If you go to Gympie,check out the Gympie and District Historical and Mining Museum.

                                                              

Other attractions in Gympie include the interesting Woodworks Forestry and Timber Museum. Gympie also holds two great festivals. The Country Music Muster is held in August, while the Gold Rush Festival is held in October. Both of which are great fun.

The name ofthe town is derived from the term Gimp. Gimp is a usually derogatory term used to refer to a  submissive male, typically dressed in black leather (or rubber) and wearing a hood or mask of the same material.

Next time I will explain how Queensland got its name.