Thursday 14 January 2010

Cook's tour...




When Peter Cook enshrined himself in history with his immortal portrayal of Harold Macmillan in ‘Beyond the fringe’, one line still gets used whenever I have to say something inane like ‘here and there’, (“Herr... Herr... Herr and there...”, referring to Cook’s hilarious non-recall of a German politician), and everyone looks at me as if I have some disfiguring disease.

This ‘Herr’ bit easily transforms into a reference in ‘History today’, from ‘The Mary Whitehouse experience’, (“You’ve had a haircut...hair cut! Haircut!”...), and from then on, it is so easy to drop into the next chapter of the story...

Air Miles!

Like many thousands of people I had a letter from Air Miles at the back end of last year, telling me that I’d better re-activate my account by December 31st, or lose the lot! There was blind panic in many households, (including The Turrets) and the dear ladies on the hot desk were all cheerfully helping us spend just enough money to get one mile on the account and save them all from oblivion. We’d amassed over 7,000, plus 20 in paper form, (God knows where they came from...), and of course there was some considerable value in these little gems as we were to find out.

I recycled an old mobile phone for 25 miles with two weeks to spare, so we were at least up and running again. But, this was about the time that BA’s staff were getting the hump about this and that and threatening to go on strike over Christmas.

Now this is not a good idea at all. A bad idea indeed. Very unwelcome and unfair on paying customers at a time when lots of families like to see each other and row for four days...

Mrs S and I decided some time ago that we needed to do more holidays in the UK and not depend on flying everywhere. We’ve done all that airport lounge stuff, but also since JRT came to live here, we’re rather fond of taking her with us, except that she kicks up a fuss for the first few miles, and Mrs S has to lean back and discuss a few home truths with her when she starts to howl. And also, there are so many deals with all the airlines, it’s not easy to see why booking a flight with Air Miles is going to make much difference.

So it only took a few minutes on their website to see what was on offer. We didn’t fancy driving a 40 ton lorry over a cliff in The Andes, or racing turtles in The Himalayas. Neither did we want to go to so many spa treatments that we’d actually end up two years younger than our Daughts, so it was time to rethink the strategy.

It didn’t take long to find the last item on the list, and you’ve guessed it haven’t you Dear Reader! The whole lot arrived just in time for Christmas, and is stashed away – well some of it is..., not a lot actually, for a rainy day, which by coincidence is just what it is doing now after all this snow!

So, to recap, from Peter Cook, via Newman and Baddiel, Air Miles, Strike action, mobile phone, and a big website, we now have now a chance to taste the best Rioja that never is...

13 comments:

Old BE said...

:-))

Philipa said...

Does that mean you're going to Spain?

Sorry it's late. Ok I'm going to bed.

wv = nowel :-)

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

It is a bit like that Blues!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Hi Pips,

Naaah, much as I'd like some sunshine and a few weeks R and R after a month of sedentary gloomy weather watching, I doubt we'll ever get there again now...

YD's impending Daughlet is a huge reason to stay here too!

Old BE said...

If it was me it would be more like

@-{}

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Ha ha ha Blues!

I've been thinking of trying a new 'grin', but have failed miserably!

As mine was designed by a lady who looks remarkably like Bubble (previous post) actually, I don't have the strength to change it!

Or want to really...

In fact - oh don't go there...

T. P. Fuller said...

Now I always thought that Rioja had to come from the Rioja region... still for all I know Libya makes a delightful Rioja... how many dirhams a tin is it again?

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

It's only me being a bit too clever Fuller!

The blurb mentions the Rioja quota system, which means that some of the identical grapes grown in the region have to be used as plonk.

But then I reckon you know that, and all you're doing is making me wish it was yard-arm time!

Well, it is in Sydney...

Anonymous said...

I did exactly the same and that particular bottle is really very nice.

I'd forgotten all about my airmiles, not something I ever really bothered with but I had enough for four full cases.

Not many left alas!

great minds etc.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

It is good Ranter isn't it!

Are you down from the ceiling about The Courier story yet?

;0)

Anonymous said...

Yeah, there's a couple more got me going recently. No one's biting though!!!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Which ones Ranters?

Anonymous said...

None as good as the Happy Christmas family that really got me going, but generally most stories in The Courier are good for a play!

"...the comments sections of online local newspapers are adventure playgrounds for the mad....." Indeed, me and Brian Elliott of T-Wells! LOL!

Nothing though beats the comments from our chav/pikey/thick/stoopid underclass - all in txtspk and still unable to express a thought clearly without threatening violence!