Beer Mats, Buttons and a few Other Bits

An analysis of my newly acquired collection of beer mats (complete with photos), a unique LNER display and some other stuff.

INTRODUCTION

This post features some stuff I have bought at auctions and some stuff I have been given, and features some links at the end.

BEER MATS

I mentioned in my post about James and Sons’ November auction that I had purchased a box of beer mats. Well I have just finished sorting through them and categorizing them, taking photos along the way.

MACALLAN

There are seven mats that relate to Macallan Scotch Whisky. Macallan are sposnors of one of the world’s most prestigious bridge tournaments as well as purveyors of whisky.

HEINEKEN AND ICE HOCKEY

I have 12 Heineken mats, one circular and 11 athletics track shaped. These latter 11 feature Ice Hockey Heroes – I have a run of numbers 2 through 9 of the original series of 10 and duplicates of numbers 7, 8 and 9.

RANDOM FOREIGN

Five mats referrg to foreign drinks.

COCA COLA AND COMPETITIONS

I have three mats advertsiign coca cola, two of which are duplicates, a schweppes mat and mat advertising a Holsten Pils competition.

014 — The two central mats are duplicates – I have shown different sides of each.

GENERAL SCOTCHES

Four mats advertising scotch whiskies other than Macallan.

PRODUCE OF THE APPLE

Five mats where the focus is on drinks created from apples:

THE IRISH CONTINGENT

I have nine mats featuring products of the Emerald Isle.

018 — The two big Guinness mats are duplicates, as are the three Murphy’s mats.

UNCATEGORIZED

Four mats that I could not think of a category for.

BEER MATS GENERAL

We now come to the best bits of the collection. Starting with nine mats featuring a range of beers from around the country.

019 — The Webster’s mats at the top are duplicates save that they have different heroes on the back, as you will see later…

BEER MATS – EAST ANGLIA

There are ten beer mats in this group, all with a connection to East Anglia.

You have now seen every beer mat in the collection, but I was not quite finished yet…

THOMAS’ TOP THREE

This is an image of my three favourite beer mats.

THE RAILWAY CONNECTION

Some mats that are specifically railway oriented.

023 — The Samuel Whitbread connection is a little tenuous, and I took the opportunity to show the Amy Johnson profile.

THE BUTTONS

One of my colleagues recently gave me some LNER buttons (LNER stood for London and North Eastern Railway), and had previously given me an LNER badge. I also had some other LNBER buttons and an LNER themed postcard from previous purchases, and assembled this into an LNER display.

dscn7687 — The three buttons that set me thinking about the display – without using the flash

dscn7689 — close up of the locomotive button

003 — Buttons, the badge and the postcard mounted ready for display.

010 — The display (it is housed in a plastic wallet).

A TWITTER FIND

If you are interested in trees then the following, tweeted by a certain James Rees, will certainly appeal:

A COUPLE OF KING’S LYNN PICS TO FINISH

001 — A gull using the flagpole at the top of Clifton House tower as a perch.

Environmental Matters

The Richmond byelection and a thunderclap.

INTRODUCTION

I have no pictures to share currently, but several important links which seem to me to be related.

A THUNDERCLAP AND A BYELECTION

Starting with the second, the result of the Richmond Park Byelection is in, and Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats has beaten the nominally ‘Independent’ but actually Tory Zac Goldsmith. The Tories in their arrogant certainty that Goldsmith would retain the seat and could then be persuaded to retake the Tory whip did not field a candidate against him. UKIP also declined to stand against Mr Goldsmith. On the other side the Green party did not field a candidate, while although Labour did have a candidate (transport expert Christian Wolmar) they ran a very low key campaign.

Since none of the candidates standing in this election supported the expansion of Heathrow Airport (the issue that triggered Mr Goldsmith’s resignation) this election was not about that. Nor in a constituency where over 70% of people voted to remain was it about Brexit.

This vote has come about because many Tory voters were not enthused by the prospect of voting for an ‘Independent’ Zac Goldsmith, and by way of being a backdated punishment for the appalling campaign Mr Goldsmith ran in the London mayoral election.

I have two links for you to get more detail about this byelection:

A piece in The Guardian.
Ian Dunt’s splendid account on www.politics.co.uk.

THE THUNDERCLAP

I have signed up to support the 24 Hours of Reality thunderclap the message of which is “We have a climate agreement – now it is time for bold action“. To be part of a thunderclap yopu need to have an account with at least one out of facebook, twitter and/ or tumblr. The thunderclap brings together all the connections of everyone who takes part. I would urge everyone who can to support this thunderclap.

The current state of play on tax avoidance

Excellent stuff from Professor Murphy. I have reproduced the Mind Map that is the heart of this post below the link.

Source: The current state of play on tax avoidance

mind-map

James and Sons November Auction

An account of James and Sons’ November auction

INTRODUCTION

James and Sons’ November auction took place yesterday at the Long Bar, Fakenham Racecourse. This post covers both yesterday and the aftermath today.

THE PRELIMINARIES

The setup was accopmplished on Tuesday, with more than a few hints of trouble ahead (see here for more details). There was a heavy frost in evidence when I set forth to catch the 6:28 bus to Fakenham (now that they have reduced the number of morning bus services I cannot get in early enough on an auction day on any other bus). The bus left on time, but only made it as far as Littleport Street (its first outward bound stop if anyone is there) before breaking down. The replacement bus took longer to arrive than it should have, given that the depot is only couple of miles away. This bus did make it to Fakenham, arriving at approximately 7:30, although it had no heating. The Long Bar is, for all its grand title, a wooden hut, and the heater would not work at first. When we did get it to work it pumped out smoke.

The IT setup did work however, and the auction started promptly.

dscn7682 — As well as posters and prints there are jockey’s silks on display at the Long Bar

THE AUCTION ITSELF

The auction started with coins, which fared very well. The coins were followed by banknotes, which sold phenomenally well. Then came the militaria, which was good in parts. After that came some aviation postcards. Lots 350-377 were toys, first toy cars, starting with the ‘Goldfinger’ Aston Martin DB5 in mint condition, and progressing through more toy cars, Hornby, Triang and a few dolls. After that we were into collector’s models – a few boxes of lead soldiers and a large quantity of model aeroplanes, which appropriately enough went sky high.

The stamp lots were patchy, and apart from a few bits of jewellery very little after lot 550 did anything of note, partly because the auctioneer was hurrying through things by that stage. A box of interesting beer mats went to me for £9.

Once the auction was concluded I was able to consume my sandwiches before helping with the clear up. I managed to get the 16:37 bus back, and this time I arrived in King’s Lynn in the same bus I had left Fakenham in! The only problem was the early evening traffic in Lynn (basically from Gaywood to King’s Lynn town centre was gridlocked).

TODAY

My only involvement with the aftermath of the auction was helping to unload to van – while three of my colleagues attended to the invoicing I was imaging some bulky stamp and cigarette card lots for our next auction on December 14, and in the process rendering the kitchen area navigable.

This was lot 268 – the last lot I imaged today.

Lot 478 – can you spot the ‘jewel in the dungheap’?

Overcoming Hurdles For The November Auction

An account of final preparations for James and Sons’ November auction.

INTRODUCTION

James and Sons’ November auction takes place at Fakenham Racecourse tomorrow, which combined with the somewhat stressed preliminaries led to the title of this post.

A CHANGE OF VENUE

Firstly, a miscommunication led to this auction being held in the Long Bar rather than the Prince of Wales Suite. Then when we arrived at the venue with the items for auction (as the picture below shows this was a very full van load) it was in state of disarray.

The next hiccough was the necessity of running a long cable from a building with an internet connection into the Long Bar, which involved stretching it across a bit of road that was due to be used by caravans, but some metal supports of the type more usually used for putting up shelving came in handy to provide a secure guard for that bit of wiring…

Also, the Long Bar has a very antiquated heater, which had clearly not been used in a long time.

I had a picture to take to resolve a query and also located a lot that had not previously been imaged…

46-a — This was the image used to resolve the query.

I also in odd quiet moments got some pictures from the Long Bar, and on the way back to the shop took a few pictures through the open window of the van…

dscn7667 — This horse turned its head at the key moment, so the white flash down the front of its head is not visible here.

BACK AT THE SHOP

Back at the shop I had some big stamp lots for our December auction (on the 14th) to attend to, and was then required to buy some paper (there is a stationer down the road who sells plain A4 at £17 for five reams).

261 — The box with the books in had fallen to the floor shedding some of its contents, so had to be dealth with as a matter of urgency.

Riverbank Redevelopment

Some ideas about the riverfront redevelopment.

INTRODUCTION

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk borough council are currently considering plans for the redevelopment of the river front. Unfortunately, although they have launched what they call a consultation it is not really fit for purpose, so I am offering some thoughts here.

1. PURFLEET – ST MARGARETS LANE

This bit of the river frontage needs least work. I like the idea of a restaurant boat in the lower Purfleet, and new lock gates. Any new buildings should be for mixed purposes – somewhere the thrives by day and is dead by night will be no improvement on the present. I would support creating new mooring – the pontoon jetty has been an unqualified success.

2. ST MARGARETS LANE – MILLFLEET

This area currently has no buildings open to the public, and this has been the case since Bradley’s closed down three years ago. I am not sure what is best for this area, but at the moment it is a stretch of river bank one walks along to reach other places and never a destination in its own right.

3. THE NAR LOOP

Treated properly this area could and should be a huge draw. I believe it’s existing characteristics should be enhanced to create a wetland nature reserve, with the southern boundary being on the far side of the Nar Outfall, to include within it the area that the cormorants favour.

4. BEYOND THE NAR LOOP

I have only one thing to say about this stretch, which is that it’s eastern boundary is marked by Hardings Way, a road that is only open to buses – and this should remain so – if you open it to cars you create a rat-run which will be disastrous for the area.

SOME PHOTOGRAPHS

I end with some pictures from in and around King’s Lynn…

To local politicians in Trosa – cancel project new road!

Some well reasoned and cogent arguments against broad building from Anna (English translation follows Swedish original)…

Annas Art - FärgaregårdsAnna

I sent this to our local polticians, who will decide to build a new big road that we don´t need. For english version, look below the Swedish text. I also translated the drawing. It´s not easy to translate, but I tried the best I could 🙂

Till TROSA KOMMUN, Kommunfullmäktige 2016-11-30
Angående Trosa förbifart/Infart Västra och expansionsplanerna för Tureholmshalvön
Beslut om finansiering bör avslås. Syftena med byggnationen enligt avtalet från 2009 har upphört.

Avtal med Trafikverket avseende förbifart Trosa 2009

Avtalet som har träffades med Trafikverket 2009 anger att förbifarten ska byggas för att:

a) Avlasta Smäckbrogatan.

Enligt Trafikverkets utredningar kommer förbifarten inte att avlasta Smäckbrogatan.

b) Möjliggöra betydande expansion väster om Trosa.

Hela Tureholmshalvön omfattas numera också av förbifartsprojektet. Den ingick inte i det område, som avtalet från 2009 anger.

Expansionsbehov väster/söder om Trosa finns inte. Trosa växer naturligt åt öster/norr mot den framtida centralorten Vagnhärad när Ostlänken blir…

View original post 1,782 more words

First Christmas weekend in Sweden

A nice response from Anna to my challenge – a pity that Trosa did badly with their lights this year.

Annas Art - FärgaregårdsAnna

This weekend we start our countdown to Christmas. That also means the start of Christmas decorations and Christmas lights.

Thomas christmas light challenge made me look for nice Christmas lights in my little town. I want to participate in that challenge, but

our towns Chirstmas lights are the worst ever. I don’t know how they think or opif they are totally blind. On the tourist center in Trosa square theres a light setting with a terrible cold color at the lights that doesn’t at all matches the warm yellowish lights on the other houses around that building. I the tress there’s a third color on some lights that shows a bluewhite also coldish color that doesn’t match any of the other lights. On the ground we have light decorations too in a fourth white color. Nope, they don’t match either.

It’s sad because our little square area used to be…

View original post 159 more words

Thomas’ Christmas Light Challenge

Some pictures of King’s Lynn’s Christmas lights and a challenge/ invitation to my fellow bloggers.

INTRODUCTION

King’s Lynn has just had the big Christmas Light switch on, so taking my cue from Anna (e.g in this post) I am offering some pictures and then a challenge.

KING’S LYNN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Here are some pictures of the Christmas lights we have on display in King’s Lynn:

THE CHALLENGE

What are the Christmas lights like where you are? If you create a post and put a link to it in the comments I will reblog it.

An Important Petition

A link to petition that needs more signatures, plus links to the supporting information. Some pictures, a few thoughts about the recently concluded test match and a couple of extra links.

INTRODUCTION

I will be covering other stuff as well, but I am giving top billing to an autism related petition.

EDWARD TIMPSON MP MAKE BRIGHTON & HOVE DISTRICT COUNCIL CEASE ILLEGAL SECTION 47 SS INVESTIGATIONS

Here is the petition – main link is in the infographic:

Here is the opening paragraph of the petition:

Too many LAs are conducting illegal S47 child protection investigations and traumatising families. Brighton & Hove City Council is conducting at least one such an investigation right now against an innocent autism family (my own – autistic parent with autistic children), which indicates a pattern of behaviour is likely, as it wouldn’t be a one-off incident. Brighton & Hove City Council is conducting this investigation on the basis of entire autism ignorance (towards parent and children) and illegal disability discrimination. How can an autism parent perform their usual superhero job whilst being put through this trauma? LAs behaving illegally must be stamped out.

Here are links to all the updates that have been posted on this petition:

You now have access to all the information I have seen about this case and should know what to do. If in signing this petition you mention me and this blog I will receive an email notification telling me that you have signed.

SOME PICTURES

After a large chunk of text it is time for some pictures. There are some from yesterday and some from today:

dscn7519 — The menu at the Rose & Crown in Harpley, where my parents took me for lunch yesterday (it was an excellent meal – thanks)

dscn7520 — The next five pics are also from the Rose & Crown, four showing decorative features and one the dessert menu.

dscn7525 — The redeveloped back of King’s Lynn Town Hall

A TEST MATCH SETTLED BY A COIN TOSS AND A DISASTROUS 49 MINUTES

Test matches are scheduled to last for five days, and this one made it deep into the fifth of those of five days. India beat England by 246 runs and are to be congratulated, although as the title of this section suggests they were helped by good fortune. Winning the toss meant that they got to bat when the pitch was at its easiest. England’s disastrous 49 minutes occurred on the second evening, when they surrendered four wickets to end that day on 103-5 in reply to 455. Of the five wickets England lost that day only Cook got a really difficult delivery – the others assisted in their own downfall.

Facing 405 to win or 150 overs to survive on an increasingly difficult pitch England were never in the hunt, and the dismissal of Joe Root for 25 was the death knell, leaving the lower order to fight it out for as long as they could. Haseeb Hameed showed great concentration and determination at the top of the order before one shot along the ground to pin him LBW (a genuinely unplayable ball).

Virat Kohli demonstrated his skill with the bat, amending a decidedly dodgy previous record against England with scores in this match of 167 and 85. The latter was an innings that made it look like the match was taking place on two different pitches – at one end everyone else was struggling in the face of an excellent bowling performance from England, and at the other Kohli met every ball with the middle of his bat.

England showed enough to suggest that this series is not a lost cause, especially with three matches still to play.

A COUPLE OF LINKS TO FINISH

First, a petition on 38 Degrees calling for the scrapping of the ‘Sovereign Grant’ (I would prefer to scrap the Royal Family outright, but at least making them pay their own way would be a move in the right direction).

I end with a link to piece by DPAC, drawing attention to a disgraceful example of ableism at CEX.

	Thomas on England Just About Hanging…
	amsutcliffebtinterne… on England Just About Hanging…
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