Christian Ainley my day to day

  On the 22nd of May 1996 I was 15 years old, the internet was in its infancy, to such an extent that physically going to the shops was actually a thing still. The world had half an eye on the millennium bug where it was thought machines hard coded to except a two digit year code would cause millions of pounds worth of damage and bring the Information Age to its knees. Surprise it didn’t and only a few cases were known worldwide. It was also the world premiere of Mission Impossible, it was a highly anticipated spring blockbuster starting Tom Cruse, Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, Jean Reno and a hold host of other top stars of the time. Its theme music was rehashed by members of U2 and the publicity was huge.  I first watched it the following summer, I think I rented the VHS from the library and, it was a great action film the scenes were fast and dynamic, the story line was clever and constructed in layers. I enjoyed it and thought nothing more but now it’s turned into a huge franch...

  Netflix has been focusing on its original content for a while and is now challenging major content creators in the awards.  Dept. Q is the latest in the expanding portfolio, it’s a crime drama that’s focused on a detective who’s struggling to overcome trauma, his sarcastic abrupt and at times condescending nature make him difficult to work with but his brilliance makes valuable for funding. For this reason he is placed in the basement with some boxes of cold cases to solve and an assistant who will tolerate his abuse.  There’s been some care taken to bring together a good cast and the script is really well written its believable and gritty. Of course there’s twists and turns to keep you guessing and you should be hooked until the end.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  I’v picked up a summer cold which is a bit of a pain.  Full of congestion the only option is to hunker down and ride it out.  I’m guessing that the transition from my late nights on leave back to early starts left me a little run down and it’s sneaked up on me.  When I’m back up and running I’ll put up a new post, have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s day three of being back at work and my sleeping pattern is back on track thank goodness. The first two days were a real struggle coming home and bearly keeping my eyes open. It was a walk up past the golf course again today the field seems to have recovered after the showers during the week. It was 14 golf balls from the path today. I did watch one golfer take a shot and smash it into the trees running along the path. I was a Good Samaritan and I fished it out of the brambles and gave it back to him latter up the course. In case you’re wondering why golfers leave there lost balls it’s time pressure it can take 5 minutes to get a ball if you have a retriever. Meanwhile the people you're playing with are anxious to get round so most players abandon them.  The top golf balls are £49 for 12 that means people are smashing £4 a time into a hedge and leaving it behind. I’m off to unwind for the evening. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  It’s back to the reality of work today, it’s strange that dread of getting up and ready and when it’s finally here it’s not that bad, well ok the alarm going off at 3:30 is pretty dier but otherwise it’s just a normal day.  After a month off it took a bit to get back in the swing of things and the time seemed to pass ever so slowly. All in all it wasn’t a bad shift My body clock was all messed up, over time it gets later and later so I did treat myself to an afternoon nap. A’m I getting that old I need an afternoon nap ! I hope not.  Ok that’s it for today, I’ve put my favourite holiday picture in the head line. If you thought I was a lighthouse keeper you’re wrong 😂 Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Chinook helicopters   I woke up later today and just chilled for the morning I read some more of John Peel’s autobiography before getting up. He had an interesting life and was a qwerky radio one DJ when that ment something.  I watched a few episodes of Bookish which is on alibi more to come on that latter. I did get my arse in gear I dropped of another parcel of balls at the post office smd went for a walk up Rowley lane only 7 balls today but I did have an impromptu air show of sorts as these two CH-47 chinook helicopters did some manoeuvres over the golf course.  Not much to write about today but I have sold 112 golf balls which isn’t bad considering I find them on the footpath. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  I want to start by stating that Remi Malek is one of the stand out performers of our time and constantly delivers in a variety different roles.  If you need me to introduce Laurence Fishburne then you must have been living under a rock for all these years. If you honestly haven’t then go look at The Matrix Now, no honestly do it now !  The Amateur is a new take on the spy genre and I have to say it’s good, I like a different approach and the surprises that it can through up. I keep waiting for that head in hand moment you know the thing that is completely unbelievable and you sit there dumbfounded and it spoils the film and it didn’t come. Ok ok there are moments where it’s a tad ridiculous but it’s done in an entertaining way so you’ll forgive it.  If you’re looking for something different that brings in a good performance with a unique script thats well thought out give it a go you’ll be surprised as was I !  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Last night I listed some of the golf balls on eBay, the Titleist Pro V1’s and the TruFeel’s. Now it’s a crowded market on eBay so I placed them on promotion to be listed top. This morning I had sold both listings not for much but it’s a start.  After a quick visit to Tesco it was down to the local parcel shop to send them off.  It was an afternoon of preparing more golf balls to be listed and then a quick walk up Rowley lane and a big haul of 28 balls. When I inspected them at home three of the more valuable ones had small splits so we’re condemned to the bin.  I’ll keep you posted on more sales, have fun stay safe 👍🏼

Blue summer sky   After a very wet morning and hunkering down inside the weather broke and I was able to get out for a walk. The same route as yesterday but I was able to leave the rain coat behind and just keep an emergency poncho in the backpack. It was an air show of sorts today on the walk, first it was grasshoppers jumping from stem to stem as they dry out in the sunshine, then it was dragonflies as I got near to the lakes. The red kites put on a display as they hunted in the fields and then finally it was butterflies as I walked along the footpaths.  It was just a short one to the top of the path snd back it wasn’t too wet underfoot and 10 golf balls today. I’ve listed some on eBay some Titleist Trufeel and Pro V1’s not for much and they are on a 30 day listing so let’s see how they do !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Antony Beevor is a master at historical writing tackling difficult and complicated subjects and presenting them to us in a neat package.  The Spanish civil war is such a case, the roots of the conflict are multi layered but the picture that opens this book sets the foundation perfectly. It depicts the Monarch is his broken down motor car waiting for it to be fixed by a mechanic, with another servant holding a standby horse. All the servants have faces that have been browned by the sun while the monarch displays his sheltered look. Meanwhile his population struggles with a poor economy and lack of employment.  The Spanish civil war is important in modern history it’s a step in the development of modern warfare and a bloody rehearsal for World War 2 which is around the corner. The terror tactics that were used by both sides and the combination of air and ground units fighting in harmony would be put into practice on a grander scale just years latter. Family’s spending day...

  Rain shower rolling in !  It was a wet and lazy morning watching rubbish on you tube and lazing around.  I had lunch and the sky outside looked a lot lighter so I grabbed my gear and went for a walk. Just around the estate to pick up the WeWards and up Rowley path.  Reflection in puddle I got about half way up the path and the heavens opened, I had my musto jacket in my pack and I quickly wrapped up against the rain and carried on. I did think about making it a long walk but the paths were quickly flooding with water so I turned back and called it a day. It was 6.9 miles and 7 golf balls.  I got home grabbed the car keys and went to Sainsburys to get some Newcastle brown ale and chocolate for the evening.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  I set up a text alert yesterday to inform me when the broadband and cable were back up and running.  At 10:40 I received the text smd then five minutes later every thing was back up and running. Ahead of the 16:07 prediction so there’s a plus.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Virgin media logo So I’ve come home from the RAF museum to find my Virgin media TV and Broadband are down.Virgin are aware of the problem and they are working on it.  It rarely happens the last time it was down it was November 2023 and it was for an hour of planned maintenance that was completed in 30 minutes. Before that I can’t remember.  If you experience an outage on virgin media dial 150 on your landline go through the menus and you’ll be asked to enter you mobile phone number and you’ll receive a link so you can monitor progress. If you click through you can register for compensation which depending on your tariff could be a pretty sum. It will also give you an estimate of the repair time too !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

RAF Museum Hendon Hanger six Today it was a day trip to the RAF Museum Hendon. It’s only a short drive, well an hour away and it’s free to enter, the car park is paid for so check before going,  The hangers of aircraft are split into different eras, there’s the beginnings of British aviation with balloons, airships and early aircraft there’s an award for long range flying between London and Manchester from 1911 a scary prospect only 8 years after the first manned flight.  P-51 Mustang  RAF Museum Hendon  Of course there are aircraft spanning World War 1 and 2 with their history’s and the units they served with. Along side them are the ordnance they would have carried.  Moving into the last hanger number 6 it covers the recent history of the RAF up to the modern day. The Tornado, Eurofighter prototype and various drones and modern weapons. It’s a great day out and being free it’s good value. Take some food because the restaurant only makes food at set times....

  I skipped the gym this morning and rested up. I did want to get out for a walk so I made it a bit longer today.  It was a quick walk around the estate to collect the WeWards then up and round Langley park, the sky seamed threatening so I had packed a rain jacket which was heavy in the back pack. After a lap of Langley park I crossed over the Uxbridge road cut past the Pinewood hotel, this time there were actually guests in the rooms.  I continued up to the Rowley farm footpath, there was a small shower but it was so light I didn’t unpack the rain jacket. I made my way up to the top of the path and back. Only 7 balls today but I guess the weather looked unpredictable for golf.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  Roe deer  It’s becoming a ritual now to go for a hike in the afternoon. It’s nice and relaxing and there’s a hunt for golf balls.  21 golf balls today which was good going also we got to see mother deer and her little one in Rowley woods.  A nice walk but I’m going to be in need of a rest I’m pushing a bit too much. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

It’s back to the gym this lunch time, started off with cross trainer intervals on level  14 it was hard going but I pushed on.  The machine to start ad 50kg push downs going up to 57kg it was near my limit.  On to the cable machine next, with a flat bar attached it was 16kg working up to 28kg. Overhead pulls next with the rope and 18kg up to 28kg  Slow rope pull downs next starting at 18kg and going up to 28kg  I picked up some bars 20kg press dropping down to 17.5kg  Plate presses to finish 15kg and down to 10kg. It was a nice work out and I need to get back to making it a habit. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼  

  In 2004 I was young, well younger ! I had more hair and slimmer jeans and the world was a vastly different place. Ewan McGregor was coming off of the back of the Star Wars Prequels and started a project with his best friend Charlie Boorman. The idea was to ride motorcycles around the world through Europe, Russia, Mongolia and USA  with an adventure and some new stories.  Ewan doesn’t want you to know that he falls off A LOT so of course I had to remind everyone. There were follow up series, Long Way Down ( Africa 2007 ) and Long Way up (Patagonia to Los Angeles 2019) and the latest is Long Way Home set in Europe. Of course there are incidents and breakdowns and a host of interesting people and they turn out to be like a Hemingway adventure but best of all you get to see two friends with a deep bond sharing some time together and it oozes through the screen that relationship that you get to be part of it.  The new series is on Apple TV and it’s worth checking out....

  Rowing machine  It’s a return to the gym this morning after nearly three weeks. I took it easy and started off with the rowing machine 3693 m in 30 mins.  On to biceps and the curl machine first, I started off with 20 kg and then up to 27.5 kg it was a nice start.  On to the preacher bench and adding 10kg to an EZ bar then upping it to 20kg it was ok I should up it next week.  Cable curls next on the life fitness machine nice a slowly 20kg and then up to 22.5 kg.  It was on to some curls with a free bar. 17.5kg then down to 15kg it’s was ok. Lat pull downs to finish starting at 50kg and then 57kg to finish which was tough.  Came home for a spot of lunch then it was a hike up to Rowley footpath to collect some golf balls and unwind. We even managed to get back before the rain which is imminent. Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

F1 The Movie Poster If you’re a formula one fan you would have heard a lot about this film, Brad Pitt has been interviewed and questioned about this film at most Grand Prix over the last 2-3 years as it’s been in production.  Apple are the producers and I think they took a team of writers locked them in a room with all the iconic race films and said take the best out of those and make a F1 film for the twenty first century, which that have done.  There are aspects of Days of Thunder, Le Mans, Grand Prix and probably a few more that I’m not aware of and I have to say once you get over the fact that the opportunity to product place and just advertise straight to you the cinema goer and begin to take notice of the film it’s actually pretty good.  Ok if you have knowledge of formula one then there are some major plot holes that might make it difficult to watch. Blatantly cheating, absent formula one medicals and a whole range of other issues but if you put those aside the fil...

  Last year The Bear had a break out season every episode was a masterpiece of writing, directing and acting and this was reflected in its record amount of Emmy nominations.  The new series dropped in late June and I’m just getting around to it and it’s still there. I have to give credit to the team they have managed to maintain the level, the fast paced gritty direction as well as the actors are all exceptional and you’re drawn into the world of high class cuisine and the pitfalls of gaining a Michelin star.  A must watch, start from the beginning it’s a treat ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

Just a small note to say thank you for all your views on my blog, it’s all appreciated. Feel free to comment below in order to help me progress and improve!  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

Harvest convoy  Today is the last day of the WeWard league and I’ve put in a good shift to finish top with 13.5 miles of hiking in the heat. 10 golf balls today !  Weather looks set to turn in the next few days so the local farmer is out to harvest his crops while they are dry in order to get the best price. Moisture in cereal crops brings a drying charge from the mill it’s sold to, so it’s better to harvest when it’s under 14% !  I’ve started a new book on Audible, Spain by Antony Beevor. He’s a masterful author and a genius at research, the Spanish civil war is an amazing complex situation to write about and there’s a lot packed into each chapter.  It’s been a total of 117 km walked over the last week so tomorrow it’s time for a rest.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

After my walk yesterday evening I climbed into first position on the WeWard league so now I have to maintain it.  It was a quick walk this morning to collect the WeWard cards and walk around Blackpark, there’s some filming in Pinewood studios that’s noisy so there are warning signs up. It was a nine mile hike this morning. It was home for lunch and chill watching David Frost vs before going out for and evening walk.    The evening walk was just up Rowley lane to collect golf balls I think the heat is putting people off playing because it was only three balls this evening.  I checked on pedometer and this week I’ve walked 105km this week, pretty good going !  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  There are lots of books that cover different aspects of the Vietnam war and this brings us another perspective. On his third tour of Vietnam the author is placed in charge of a special forces group consisting of Vietnamese tribal men. They fight hard and play hard in the tough environment.  This book brings together the stories of that third tour all the high jinx and the the hard fought battles, the author has a passion for the men in his unit and the work they do and it all culminates in the bitter sweet ending that will make you think and ponder the fruitlessness of war.  A good read with a poignant ending if you have an interest in this conflict then you must pick up a copy as it’s a no holds barred account.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

  With a career spanning 51 years Sir David Frost is a journalist who will be forever linked with the latter half of the 20th century and it’s iconic figures.  His career starts on British TV with a  satirical comedy show that looks back over the weeks events, Frost pushes to get the best writers and to develop the show into the TV event of the week pushing boundaries and at times upsetting the establishment.  Frost branches out and begins interviewing celebrities of the day arguably his first biggest coup was to secure Paul McCartney when The Beatles are at their height. He would go on the interview the biggest celebrities of the era including his most famous interview with disgraced former president Richard Nixon.  Sir David Frosts greatest strength in my opinion is that he is a people person. He knows how to win you over and extract the best from you. This doesn’t mean he’s a pushover far from it he challenges his subjects but in a friendly discussion or deba...

  No Spin  Shane Warne   If you’re Australian or a cricket fan the name Shane Warne will be familiar. Voted as one of the 20th century’s best cricketers he changed the course of cricket in the latter 20th century.  The West Indies had been a dominant test team in the 80’s with a lineup of fast bowlers that struck fear into teams and this model was copied unsuccessfully by other test teams. The art of spin bowling was dying out.  One of the greatest rivalry’s in cricket is England vs Australia it’s called the ashes after a cremation of the wicket bails when the Australian team first won in England it was seen as the death of English cricket. In 1993 a young Shane Warne with his first ball delivered a ball that pitched perfectly with spin and bowled out a great English cricketer Mike Gatting.  That was the point in which his career took off and Australia dominated world cricket for ten years. In this book Shane tells his story of how he got there and what it ...

Blackpark Lake  I revelled in the new big screen TV and watched until late last night, it’s amazing how much rubbish you can find after three days of no TV.  This morning it was up and a healthy breakfast after a week of fried food and then I got kitted up and went out for a walk. I got today’s WeWard cards and then walked up to Blackpark lake and back. I’m I the highest league on WeWard and I’m in second place so I’m going to push for first today!  I came home and I was just in time for the mattress delivery, I dragged it in put it on the bed and chilled with lunch beef stroganoff it was nice. I bounced between the cricket and you tube until late afternoon the got kitted up and went for a longer walk. Yes it was Rowley footpath and it was 12 golf balls today. I’m going to push on the walking again tomorrow to try and win the Space Boot league on WeWard and then I’ll change for something different next week.  Have fun stay safe 👍🏼

Sunset   On line shopping has changed the way that society works, don’t believe me ask someone who was alive before the internet. It used to be a slog to either the high street or in latter years an out of town shopping village, you’d look around the shops and find something in your budget or that a salesman recommended probably because he had to many. Today it’s browsing online and next day delivery! The down side is that you’re a slave to that 2 or 4 hour window and mine are always at the worst time. It’s never a nice early one like between 8-12, I always get the late lunch slot that completely messes the day up. If you get the early or evening slot feel free to taunt me below in the comments. My delivery window was 11:47 - 15:47 so there was time to do some prep, just a tidy up and then make sure there was enough room to hang the T.V back on the wall where the old one had been. So the big question is where in my delivery window did it actually arrive, go on I’ll let you have a l...

  Roe Deer 🦌  It’s nice being on holiday but there’s all the chores of coming home to go with it, that pile of washing that’s been growing in the suit case and the food shop that needs to be done in order to live for the next week. My main T.V has also given up the ghost and will only produce a picture with a rolling tartan pattern on, maybe it’s had enough of English football and has finally come out as Scottish who knows ! So I’ve ordered a replacement on AO that should come tomorrow, hopefully in time for the third England - India test at Lords.  After the shopping was completed and put away it was a quick lunch and then out for an afternoon hike. Up Rowley footpath and back hunting for golf balls on the way, it was a record haul today 35 balls ! I need to start cleaning them up and posting for sale on EBay tho get my money back for my crappy ball retriever. It’s been a nice day all in all, hopefully the new T.V comes early so I can get on with the rest of the day tom...

Jersey from the air July 2025 It’s the final day in Jersey and then an evening flight home. It was a normal start going down having breakfast. Most of the packing was done last night so it was just the last little bits, chargers and small bits.  St Helier beach, Jersey  We left the bags in the hotel and had a walk down the beach it’s the last opportunity to look for some sea glass. The tide was out so it was a successful hunt even a few rare blue pieces, surprisingly even though the local beer comes in a brown bottle it was mostly green and white !  British Airways A320  Jersey airport G-TTNI We went back into town to get some lunch as it would be a long afternoon and you can never be sure of airport food options especially at small airports. We had a pizza express before making our way to the airport.  British Airways A320 G-TTNI It was all smooth sailing at the airport the check in was quick and the flight was boarded quickly and we even arrived early it’s Hea...

Plemont bay Puffins with, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney in Background, Jersey foreground   Today’s trip was up to Plemont bay it’s in the opposite corner of the island compared to St Helier so it’s a bit of a bus ride.  The bus stops on the main road and it’s a bit of a walk to the puffins,   But the view is really good. You can see all four of the major Channel Islands and I’ve tried to capture them in the photo. The picture is so small you’ll be lucky to see them but you get the point.  Plemont bay, Jersey  From the puffins it’s a steep descent to Plemont bay beach. It’s a really nice sandy beach with a lifeguard on duty there’s surfing at one end and people swimming at the other the water was choppy though.  Plemont cliffs, Jersey   There is a footpath that leads around to L’Ouziere beach via a ruined castle but the wind blowing over the cliffs was very strong so we decided to get the bud back to town. It was nice to visit and if you want to swim...

  Elizabeth castle Jersey  Today it was intended to be an earlier start and a trip to Elizabeth castle. It ended up being the usual time but it was ok, we made it in time to walk across to Elizabeth castle on the low tide. We made our way in just after opening time after having a little search for some sea glass on the beach just outside.  If you there early the guided tour is at 10:45, Jane took us around and explained the history and development of the castle. That covered just over an hour and took us to  the top of the original fort. We raced down stairs to see the reenactment of an early 19th century artillery man first with a musket and then with a canon.  Gun emplacement Elizabeth Castle  Jersey    We had a quick snack of some crisps we’d bought with us as well as a snickers and a mocha and Bakewell tart we’d bought it the Café. I would recommend bringing a packed lunch with you as the cost soon adds up. We had a look around the bunkers and...

  Jersey war tunnels  Day five in Jersey and there is some wet weather forecast for today so it was an indoor pursuit today and the War tunnels.  We didn’t get a packed lunch today the tunnels aren’t that far from the town centre.  Jersey War tunnel  The tunnels are expensive at £19 but the museum is well presented. You’re given an ID card of a Jersey resident during the war and you can follow their story. There are residents, forced workers, children and occupation forces. It gives you a great insight into life during the occupation and the delicate balance. Would you report your neighbour for having a radio set ?.  Sculpture outside  Jersey museum  It was back into town for a spot of lunch, today it was lamb burgers at the pub with a couple of pints. Then on to look around the Jersey museum there’s an exhibition on Jersey trade and Jerseys part in the slave trade. It was interesting and well laid out. It’s back to the hotel to chill and relax fo...

La Corbière Lighthouse It’s day four in a Jersey and there was some debate on where to head to, Plemont bat or La Corbière light house. The bus to Plemont is every two hours so after Author in sandals   we’d bought lunch in M&S it was to the bus station and we’d just missed the bus to Plemont and so it was to La Corbière.  I’ve elected to wear  Corbière lighthouse from cliff top sandals today I’m not a big fan, I think it’s some childhood trauma from a cheap pair of jelly sandals that cut my feet when I was 5. There’s a lesson don’t buy cheap sandal from the market for your child ! It takes me a while to get the technique, to stay I’m scooping up large amounts of gravel and it’s always the sharpest bit that ends up under the ball of my foot. Eventually I get it and I’m not dragging my feet in a lazy way.  Corbière lighthouse  The tide was coming in fast so we didn’t walk out to the Lighthouse and we elected to walk over the cliff to get to the long beach in ...