Strathclyde Country Park, at Motherwell, Scotland, landscaped about 15 years ago by the local authority parks department when they discovered the remains of a roman bath house, circa 200 AD.

Unfortunately because the remains were at a depth below the water table it would not be safe for the public to visit, so the site was excavated, photographed and all items numbered, then removed whilst the site was built up, the bricks were then replaced exactly on the spot above where they had first been discovered.

About 100 yards away is a bridge, also dated to about 200 AD.

The picture below is taken from a post card in my collection of the same Roman Bridge, the post office date stamp is for 21st August, 1922.

I suppose it's natural, Hazel and I, we're both "knocking on a bit" in years, a bit "stick in the mud", what has become regular is "normal", but, we have decided on change, to become more adventurous.

It came about by sheer chance, we, literally, bumped into a neighbour, if we had seen her coming we would have crossed the road, now that's not a nice thing to admit, but, it's true. Her first words were, "I'm just back from Iceland", and then we stood there listening, "Have you ever been there?", how nice the people were, how clean every thing was, it's not too far to travel, etc, etc, we did, eventually manage to get away.

Hazel and I walked on in silence for a bit, I'm wondering what the score is in the football match Rangers v Celtic, Hazel was the first to say, "Maybe we are stuck in a rut, we do always go to the same place, and, I'm not complaining, it suits me, but, perhaps some thing different next time?"

"Well, I'm happy to try" I said, "We are on first name terms with many of them at the usual place, I know that it's always much the same but they do tell us about the new things, I've no real complaints about it, but I will go along with what you decide".

So, she has decided, next week we travel a little bit further than we usually do, and we will visit Iceland.

Anyway, their carrier bags are bigger than Sainsbury's, they fit the pedal bin better.

My God, I must have written an amazing blog yesterday, 2,865 page views on just one day, I wish that I had read it. What did I miss?

Question 1:

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?
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Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.

Question 2:
It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts.
Here are the facts about the three candidates. Who would you vote for?

Candidate A.

Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologist
He's had two mistresses.
He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B.

He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in
college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C

He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an
occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

Decide first... no peeking, then scroll down for the response.
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Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.
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And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question:

If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.
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Pretty interesting isn't it?
A person should think before judging someone.

Never be afraid to try something new.

Remember:

Amateurs...built the ark.

Professionals...built the Titanic

In the Garden today,

Actually it is in the house at the back of the garden, but next year it will be mine as I dug up a cutting today and planted it.

Spread peanuts in their shells about for the squirrels, but they were too late, Mr and Mrs Magpie came and stole them all,

Spent an hour at a country park, most of it watching the meercats,

More about the park later, the sun shone, it was a good day.