English Summer Rain

Well this is thoroughly depressing. We are supposed to be hosting Men's Invitation Day today here at Ilkley Golf Club, but due to two days of very heavy rain the course is heavily flooded and it is still raining.  The time sheet was full today with around 140 golfers signed up to play, plus we have two events scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) and on Monday we are supposed to be hosting an England Golf Captains event for 100. It isn't looking good at the moment.

Yesterday's service was rather chaotic due to the torrential rain interrupting the two visiting parties we had booked in.  Congratulations are due to the gentlemen of Headingley Golf Club and the Spreadeagle Golf Society who braved the conditions to play 18 holes in a constant, wind lashed downpour.

Thanks also to my staff for the day, Rob, Ellie, Callum, Fred and Laura who were all great and responded to our calls for rapidly changing shifts as events changed through the course of the day.

Due to insomnia I've been up since 4.30am, and the river hasn't dropped at all in that time.  Looking out from the clubhouse I can see that large areas of the 1st, 2nd and 18th holes are flooded, and of course this means that the lower lying areas of the course will be a lake this morning.

It looks like a homework day then, I may as well take advantage of the sudden lull to catch up on my A151 work.  Target for the day then; finish the chapter on the history of books, make a start on the history of museums and collections chapter, and then read the rest of the essay Metaphor, Materiality and Interpretation: The Metaphorical Tranformations of Wala Island Canoes, gripping stuff I assure you.

What's Wrong with This Picture?

I have stated that everyone needs R and R, and (outside of assault issues) This Blog generally avoids american politics unless there is humor or free speech involved, but I'm starting to get weirded out.
Pakistan cuts supply lines to our troops in afghanistan ?
burning effigy of U.S. President

Student supporters of Islami Jamiat Talaba, a student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, hold a banner while protesting against NATO forces in front of a burning tyre in Lahore November 26, 2011.  The banner reads, "Terrorist NATO and America, leave our country." Credit: REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

while
the president golfs and goes to BB games again?

I know dropping drone bombs is easier than torture,

and instant death of terrorists solves the whole gitmo problem,

but i feel confused somehow...

http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-24-troops-dead-nato-helicopter-attack-140517725.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/26/us-pakistan-nato-idUSTRE7AP03S20111126

excerpt:

..."Pakistan retaliated by shutting down vital NATO supply routes into Afghanistan, used for sending in nearly half of the alliance's shipments by land.

The attack is the worst incident of its kind since Pakistan uneasily allied itself with Washington immediately following the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. targets.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan, its ally in the war on militancy, have been strained following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces in a raid on the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad in May, which Pakistan called a flagrant violation of sovereignty.
A spokesman for NATO-led troops in Afghanistan confirmed that NATO aircraft had been called in to support troops in the area and had probably killed some Pakistani soldiers.

"Close air support was called in, in the development of the tactical situation, and it is what highly likely caused the Pakistan casualties," said General Carsten Jacobson, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

He added that he could not confirm the number of casualties, but ISAF is investigating. "We are aware that Pakistani soldiers perished. We don't know the size, the magnitude," he said.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said the killings were "an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty" and added, "We will not let any harm come to Pakistan's sovereignty and solidarity." ..."

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/jan/14/counting-obamas-campaign-promises/

Spider with headlight-- always scary

Sports Bedroom decorating ideas

Fun Sports theme bedroom decorating ideas here

For all the boys out there who want to be athletes, of course they're going to want a sport-themed room!

Creative place to start is by  using sports lockers as a wardrobe and dressing table. Field-style rugs is a must, and life-size sports player wall murals is a nice touch. It's almost as if you're really on the field, playing your favourite sport!

Creative way to use the soccer ball, don't you think? (Or football, depending on where in the world you are!) They're a necessity for any would-be soccer player out there. What a fun way to wake up in the mornings, by kicking a winning goal before the day starts.



Fun Sports theme bedroom pictures here




Baseball bedroom decorating ideas and baseball themed decor

Cheer on your favorite baseball team, and show them your team spirit with their sports themed logo wall mural.

Novelty theme beds, baseball style. Play ball!

Fun baseball themed furniture for the sports fans playroom

Baseball bedroom pictures here

Or maybe baseball's your thing. In which case, some clever baseball wall murals go a long way - as does some creative baseball themed furniture, like the baseball glove chair, or a baseball beanbag!




Golf theme bedroom decor and golf theme bedroom decorating ideas here

Maybe you prefer something more relaxed, like golf. Scenic wall murals of golf courses are always a relaxing view in a room, and teamed with a golf bag and some clubs, you might as well be on the green and taking your next swing!



Wrestling theme bedroom decor and wrestling theme decorating ideas here




















Or you could be into the crazy excitement of wrestling. In the blue corner, we have some cool WWE bedding and a wall mural of the boxing ring. In the red corner... go crazy! Have fun!
Paint the walls to resemble the ropes of the ring.




Martial arts theme decor and martial arts bedroom decorating ideas here

Find your zen with a martial arts themed room.. Red, black and white are the essential colors for this theme, as well as incorporating yin and yang.





Skateboarding theme bedroom decor and skateboarding theme decorating ideas here

Or aim to be the next Tony Hawk! Use skateboards for shelves and include creative graffiti wall murals in your bedroom.

Car racing theme bedrooms and car racing themed decor

Car racing theme bedroom pictures here


Or maybe race cars are what you love! Lots of grey and red for this theme. A car bed and some wall stickers will go a long way!
What boy wouldn't love to work and play in his own garage style bedroom.

Transportation theme bedroom decorating ideas here






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Past The Half-Way Stage

Image by cannellfan via FlickrThat's it, the nights are drawing in already, the longest day is done and dusted, we're half-way done with the summer season of 2011.  As per usual in the feast and famine work pattern of the golf club I am overworked and under slept at this time of year, and as exams and injury have conflicted with our busy period we have been slightly understaffed for the first half of the summer.

We have done some hugely busy days and nights in the last few weeks, and I would like to say a special thanks to yesterday's crew, Laura and Rachel on the evening shift, and especially the two Robs who worked like demons in order to get the buffet and bar orders done for Blaize day yesterday.

Rotary Club of Bradford Blaize run an annual charity golf day here at Ilkley Golf Club which raises thousands of pounds for a variety of charities.  This year's event was very well supported and the weather although hardly flaming June was reasonable and dry for most of the day.

From dictionary.com "Summer - the period comprising the months of June, July, and August in the U.S., and from the middle of May to the middle of August in Great Britain." Well, I never knew that the Yanks got shorter summers than us.

Kevin Na finds trouble, cards a 16 in Round 1 of Valero Texas Open (2011)