Oh dear, I've ripped off a previous title; but nothing else seems appropriate.
Almost 40% of Leicestershire's firefighters failed a fitness test at the first attempt. Of those, 35% managed to pass second time around. Their union rep has said that the reason for the failure is because the standard has been set "too high". Apparently some "really fit" firefighters have failed the test. Based on that logic, some really unfit firefighters have passed the test. Or maybe they just blagged it. I'm surprised he didn't go further and suggest that the wrong sort of test was being used.
In an attempt to overcome this, failures are being given advice on nutrition and exercise. Perhaps those "really fit" firefighters are doing the wrong kind of exercise? Or eating the wrong kind of healthy food? Or perhaps, just maybe, they are doing the typical thing of overestimating their own fitness? It's human nature, after all. No really, it was just the one kebab. Honest, guv.
If I was ever trapped in a burning building, aside from the jokes about being rescued by a hunky man in uniform, I would be distraught to see a lard arse struggling to come to my rescue. But that could just be me.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Death Of Public Transport
Arriva yet again is doing its utmost to kill off public transport in Leicester. The bus company has announced that so called "saver" tickets will be subject to a price increase this weekend. Nice one, and thanks for the warning.
Prices will be going up by over 10%; well over the rate of inflation, however this has not deterred the transport group from stinging the general public even more than it does now. Arriva blame the increase on "running costs", and that the company has "reached the point where it is inevitable that we must pass on some of the additional costs to customers in order that the services remain sustainable". It's hard to reconcile this statement when Arriva:
In short, Arriva is one of the worst public transport providers I have ever had to endure. Only Cross Country Trains challenges for the top, or bottom, spot. Oh, wait a minute .... Cross Country is owned by Arriva, isn't it.
The company is still making profits; rather than using them to slap shareholders on the back, these should be ploughed back into the communities that Arriva is supposed to serve, otherwise how on earth are more people going to be persuaded to ditch the car? As it stands, it is now cheaper for me to drive into the city centre and pay for a car park. I have always supported public transport, but this price increase now means I will be reconsidering my stance. I am lucky to be in a position to do this. It's those who aren't, and the ones who are the most reliant on buses, but who will eventually priced out that I feel sorry for. Not Arriva's profit margin.
Prices will be going up by over 10%; well over the rate of inflation, however this has not deterred the transport group from stinging the general public even more than it does now. Arriva blame the increase on "running costs", and that the company has "reached the point where it is inevitable that we must pass on some of the additional costs to customers in order that the services remain sustainable". It's hard to reconcile this statement when Arriva:
- cannot ensure that buses run on time
- cannot run enough buses at times when demand is high
- cannot run a frequent service after 6.30pm, and in some areas, no service at all after this time on a Sunday
- cannot run a night service, something other cities of a similar size can sustain
- employs some of the rudest and most ignorant drivers known to mankind (okay, this doesn't affect the cost as such, but it's one more nail in Arriva's coffin as far as I am concerned)
In short, Arriva is one of the worst public transport providers I have ever had to endure. Only Cross Country Trains challenges for the top, or bottom, spot. Oh, wait a minute .... Cross Country is owned by Arriva, isn't it.
The company is still making profits; rather than using them to slap shareholders on the back, these should be ploughed back into the communities that Arriva is supposed to serve, otherwise how on earth are more people going to be persuaded to ditch the car? As it stands, it is now cheaper for me to drive into the city centre and pay for a car park. I have always supported public transport, but this price increase now means I will be reconsidering my stance. I am lucky to be in a position to do this. It's those who aren't, and the ones who are the most reliant on buses, but who will eventually priced out that I feel sorry for. Not Arriva's profit margin.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Raising the age of criminal responsibility....
The Law Society has said that the age of criminal responsibility is too low. As you can imagine, I disagree.
The way children are viewed can be seen as two extremes. On the one hand are the feral offspring of uncaring parents, allowed to roam the streets of our nation, striking terror in the heart of law-abiding citizens. On the other, are precious little innocents, who even as teenagers, shouldn't be subjected to the harsh realities of modern life, and need to be wrapped in cotton wool. Metaphorically speaking. When commentators say that the age of criminal responsibility is too high, I am convinced that they have the latter in mind. Even where they consider the former, their behaviour is written off as a product of society, and that they have been failed, and couldn't possibly be able to know right from wrong. The reality is, children fall somewhere in between.
The article keeps referring to young children, and yes, it's right that young children aren't criminalised. Despite popular myth, a 10 year old does have some idea of what is right and what is wrong. I was 10 years old, I can remember what it was like. Hitting other people? Wrong. Stealing? Wrong. If kids didn't know the difference, then surely more children would be committing crimes. They don't because they know it is wrong. At the age of 10, kids are on the verge of joining 'big' school. Some are close to reaching adolescence, physically, so why is it hard to imagine they cannot be intellectually? In my opinion, 10 is the right age for children to accept responsibility for their actions. To qualify this further, there are many parents, middle-class and supposedly upright, who on the one hand molly-coddle their kids, yet are happy for their little girls to wear make up and clothing more suited to women twice their age. Hmmm....
As well as this, could raising the age lead to some children playing the system to get out of being punished? Children of all ages can be manipulative with adults, and can say things that help their own situation. An older child/young teen who is used to lying may find it even easier once they've been exposed to the criminal justice system. At times, it seems like adults underestimate the capabilities of those under 18, this could be a big mistake in the long run.
Would re-introducing doli incapax help? Possibly, but if a child between 10-14 years of age doesn't understand the nature of their actions, in terms of criminal responsibility, then surely they don't have the necessary mens rea for the offence in the first place? And if this is the case, then why should the age of criminal responsibility be increased?
The way children are viewed can be seen as two extremes. On the one hand are the feral offspring of uncaring parents, allowed to roam the streets of our nation, striking terror in the heart of law-abiding citizens. On the other, are precious little innocents, who even as teenagers, shouldn't be subjected to the harsh realities of modern life, and need to be wrapped in cotton wool. Metaphorically speaking. When commentators say that the age of criminal responsibility is too high, I am convinced that they have the latter in mind. Even where they consider the former, their behaviour is written off as a product of society, and that they have been failed, and couldn't possibly be able to know right from wrong. The reality is, children fall somewhere in between.
The article keeps referring to young children, and yes, it's right that young children aren't criminalised. Despite popular myth, a 10 year old does have some idea of what is right and what is wrong. I was 10 years old, I can remember what it was like. Hitting other people? Wrong. Stealing? Wrong. If kids didn't know the difference, then surely more children would be committing crimes. They don't because they know it is wrong. At the age of 10, kids are on the verge of joining 'big' school. Some are close to reaching adolescence, physically, so why is it hard to imagine they cannot be intellectually? In my opinion, 10 is the right age for children to accept responsibility for their actions. To qualify this further, there are many parents, middle-class and supposedly upright, who on the one hand molly-coddle their kids, yet are happy for their little girls to wear make up and clothing more suited to women twice their age. Hmmm....
As well as this, could raising the age lead to some children playing the system to get out of being punished? Children of all ages can be manipulative with adults, and can say things that help their own situation. An older child/young teen who is used to lying may find it even easier once they've been exposed to the criminal justice system. At times, it seems like adults underestimate the capabilities of those under 18, this could be a big mistake in the long run.
Would re-introducing doli incapax help? Possibly, but if a child between 10-14 years of age doesn't understand the nature of their actions, in terms of criminal responsibility, then surely they don't have the necessary mens rea for the offence in the first place? And if this is the case, then why should the age of criminal responsibility be increased?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Paying for your weight loss; Fat chance
I am going to come across as a harsh cow, but I don't care. Obesity is not a disease, but a way of life. It's very simple. To lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you need. If you consume more, you put on weight, and if you get the balance right, your weight stays the same.
Hopefully, that's cleared things up. Unfortunately, some people don't like the sound of that. It's far easier to blame their genes, fast food restaurants, food pricing, anyone but themselves, that would of course be wrong.
The thought of eating healthy food, and taking a little bit of exercise is apparently more daunting than major surgery. That's surgery that you might not wake up from. I don't know if it's just me, but I find that kind of attitude frightening. Obesity surgery is on the rise, and this isn't breaking news. It seems that more and more people see it as a panacea or maybe even the easy option. There is no easy option. The operation reduces the size of the stomach; why not reduce the amount of food that you eat? Gastric bypass also reduces the length of the digestive tract, to stop food from being absorbed into the system. Again, there is a more logical option; eat food that doesn't break down as quickly. Instead of gorging on fatty foods, eat whole-wheat varieties and veggies. This isn't a recent discovery either, despite the way that eating greens is really, really good for you is being reported. And contrary to popular myth, it can be cheaper and easier to cook healthy food from scratch instead of subsisting on take-aways and junk food.
As for exercise, doctors aren't telling us to train like Olympic athletes. Thirty minutes, 5 times a week is all you need to do. It sounds a lot, but break it down. Just go out for a walk. Whatever. As for excuses, I have exercise induced asthma. I also have a condition that means I'm susceptible to injury. I could easily shy away from exercise, wrap myself in cotton wool for the benefit of my fragile constitution. The truth of the matter is exercise helps with both conditions. Okay, I might sprain my ankle every so often, but the number of times that this happens has decreased as the reality is exercise has strengthened my body. Revelation of the decade? I don't think so....
So to read that one woman has gone to court to get a decision to refuse her obesity surgery overturned. I could have ignored this story, had she been challenging the decision of a private health care clinic. But no, she wants the operation carried out on the NHS. This woman has already had complications from the procedure, but hey ho, she's more willing to put up with that than she is to cut down the food she eats, which is what she'll have to do once she's had the surgery, if she has it. So why the hell should the taxpayer pay for this? If she's successful, she sees it as a victory for those poor unfortunate people 'suffering' from obesity. I see it as another excuse for fatties to use, rather than getting off their lazy arses and doing something for themselves.
So yes, I'm harsh. But as an ex-fatty who lost weight 'the hard way', I think I'm justified in that opinion. Which leads me onto my latest bug bear; the latest Slim Fast ad. "I bet she's never been on a diet"; no, that's right, love. No woman who's a size 10 or smaller has ever been a size 14 or bigger. Oh no.
Arsewipes.
Hopefully, that's cleared things up. Unfortunately, some people don't like the sound of that. It's far easier to blame their genes, fast food restaurants, food pricing, anyone but themselves, that would of course be wrong.
The thought of eating healthy food, and taking a little bit of exercise is apparently more daunting than major surgery. That's surgery that you might not wake up from. I don't know if it's just me, but I find that kind of attitude frightening. Obesity surgery is on the rise, and this isn't breaking news. It seems that more and more people see it as a panacea or maybe even the easy option. There is no easy option. The operation reduces the size of the stomach; why not reduce the amount of food that you eat? Gastric bypass also reduces the length of the digestive tract, to stop food from being absorbed into the system. Again, there is a more logical option; eat food that doesn't break down as quickly. Instead of gorging on fatty foods, eat whole-wheat varieties and veggies. This isn't a recent discovery either, despite the way that eating greens is really, really good for you is being reported. And contrary to popular myth, it can be cheaper and easier to cook healthy food from scratch instead of subsisting on take-aways and junk food.
As for exercise, doctors aren't telling us to train like Olympic athletes. Thirty minutes, 5 times a week is all you need to do. It sounds a lot, but break it down. Just go out for a walk. Whatever. As for excuses, I have exercise induced asthma. I also have a condition that means I'm susceptible to injury. I could easily shy away from exercise, wrap myself in cotton wool for the benefit of my fragile constitution. The truth of the matter is exercise helps with both conditions. Okay, I might sprain my ankle every so often, but the number of times that this happens has decreased as the reality is exercise has strengthened my body. Revelation of the decade? I don't think so....
So to read that one woman has gone to court to get a decision to refuse her obesity surgery overturned. I could have ignored this story, had she been challenging the decision of a private health care clinic. But no, she wants the operation carried out on the NHS. This woman has already had complications from the procedure, but hey ho, she's more willing to put up with that than she is to cut down the food she eats, which is what she'll have to do once she's had the surgery, if she has it. So why the hell should the taxpayer pay for this? If she's successful, she sees it as a victory for those poor unfortunate people 'suffering' from obesity. I see it as another excuse for fatties to use, rather than getting off their lazy arses and doing something for themselves.
So yes, I'm harsh. But as an ex-fatty who lost weight 'the hard way', I think I'm justified in that opinion. Which leads me onto my latest bug bear; the latest Slim Fast ad. "I bet she's never been on a diet"; no, that's right, love. No woman who's a size 10 or smaller has ever been a size 14 or bigger. Oh no.
Arsewipes.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Viva Las Red Sox
Or the "Summer Hols 2010 Experience". This post is a biggy - be warned!!
AIR CANADA - NEVER AGAIN....
Before this trip, I have always wanted to go to Canada. I've never really had any preference where. The rugged, desolate landscapes when flying over Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have been intriguing, and I've wondered what the cities, such as Vancouver or Toronto, would be like. Would they be more like the US, or would they retain any 'Britishness'. However, if I never see Canada again, I won't be too unhappy.
Whilst not a regular traveller, like the hubby, I have been about a fair bit. I've made use of connecting flights before now. In all my time travelling, I have never missed a connection, or had a flight cancelled. One would be disappointing. But to have it happen twice, on the same holiday, is scandalous. The main problem seems to be the eagerness of US airports to close as soon as the weather becomes a bit inclement. Bearing in mind Boston gets significant snow fall, I wonder how anyone ever manages to fly out during the winter....
The upshot of our misfortune is that I have been to Canada; not just technically due to flying into an airport. We spent around 5 hours in Montreal, and 3 hours in Halifax. What were my impressions? How the feck do I know, it was the middle of the fecking night.
The worst thing for me was that the layover in Halifax could have been easily avoided if Air Canada wanted to be more proactive and helpful. The only person who seemed to want to try and get us onto our connecting flight was the one member of staff unable to do so.
BOSTON - MORE THAN A FEELING
I have made no secret of it; I love Boston. I went there in 2003, and had a great time. It's a walker friendly city, and so there is lot to see, and lots of places to explore. It was so cold and windy on our last visit that we still had lots to see and do.
I was really excited when I booked a whale watching trip. I would rather go and watch them in their natural environment, not cooped up in some glorified wet circus. If a whale is going to leap out of the water, it's going to do so because it wants to, and not for some reward and applause. Although I got the feeling on the boat that had a whale flipped out of the ocean, most of the passengers would have done so. As it was, the whales were being incredibly shy. The boat travelled for ages until two humpbacks were spotted; a mother and calf. We only really saw them when they came up for air, but rather than being disappointed, I had the smug, self-satisfaction of knowing no whales were harmed during the trip.
One other trip we wouldn't have contemplated doing on our last trip was to the Harbour Islands. There are plenty to choose from, but we went with the two easiest, which are Spectacle and Georges. Spectacle is small, and has a number of well maintained paths to walk off the American sized food portions we'd been eating. There were great views of the planes landing at Logan airport, where it looked as though some would hit the water instead of the runway.
Georges Island houses Fort Warren. No longer in use, it's a great place to explore, with loads of nooks and crannies, and nothing to stop you from investigating. Except the dark. Torchless, we couldn't go too far into the ramparts. Although the highlight, for me, was the cricket lessons taking place on the field. Being taught by an American who had taken the trouble to dress in whites for the occasion, it was amusing to see that he failed to bowl a single ball at his tutees that wasn't a no ball. I say bowl; the arm went above the head, unfortunately it didn't stop him chucking. And the least said about how he held a bat, and the appropriate stance, the better. I know that baseball can be technical, but at least I have a better idea on how to bat and pitch....
Boston is proud to draw on its Irish heritage. Every where you turn, there's an Irish pub. The great thing about them is that they have not only heard of lime cordial, they have it in their bars. It was a refreshing change to be able to chill out on a hot, summer's day with a lager and lime. Although I still had to be careful, as some of the waitresses seemed to get it confused with a lager shandy, doh! How that happened, I don't know....
When we decided to go back to Boston, I managed to get us tickets for Fenway Park. My baseball knowledge is limited, but even I know it's one of the few remaining old school stadia, and I am well aware that the Red Sox have a lot of history. I wanted to get a feel of the pre-match atmosphere, so we went about an hour before the game started. The area around Fenway Park houses many bars and restaurants, as well as stalls selling a wide variety of food and drink. The area was full of people, it reminded me of my trips to Wembley. Inside the stadium, things were just as busy, if not more. My football team has asked, at Fans Consultative Committee meetings, how can they get more people into the ground before kick off. It's not rocket science. Although I was surprised at just how expensive food and drink were, the number of kiosks, and the wide variety of food and drink on offer meant that there would be something to suit everybody's moods and tastes. On top of this, there are kiosks selling official merchandise, saving trips to the store where queues seemed to be longer. If only Leicester City were willing to take such a view....
I was am easily amused, and the Hammond organ version of "Crazy in Love" playing when I first walked out of the concourse had me in stitches. I hadn't really read up a lot on the rules of the game, but picked up a fair bit during the game. There were some things that confused me, such as being able to be struck out on the first two foul balls, but not the third, but it didn't detract from the game. My other concern was how much TV would affect the game, but to be honest the time taken for the teams to change at the end of an innings was quicker than I expected. However, substitutions were a long, protracted affair. It's apparently not just a case of taking one player off and replacing him. Just don't ask me what was going on!!
The other noticeable thing was that people drifted in to watch the game, some missing the first 3 innings! For me personally, I hate to miss any of the action; the nearest I can equate it to is watching an entire County Championship or Test Match. Even so, I would still be there for the start, and would still be there at stumps. :-/ For the record, the Sox were walloped 9-1 by the Cleveland Indians.
VEGAS BABY
Before I start on my Vegas experience, I want to state that I enjoyed Vegas. I just wouldn't rush to go back. I feel I've done it.
Las Vegas consists of The Strip, several miles of hotel resorts based on numerous themes, some with their own shopping malls, and Fremont Street, where it all began. And that's pretty much it. It's not like there's anything to see or do in between the two. The bus is recommended if you want to see Fremont Street, not so much for the distance, but because of the heat, and the fact that some of the areas in between don't look too inviting. Away from the glitz and glamour of the strip are houses bordering on the shanty town style. Most appear to be derelict. I could be doing the area a disservice, I just wouldn't want to take the risk.
The Strip is big, brash and garish. Each hotel has a theme, some an accompanying show. Treasure Island, with it's pirate theme, has a free trice nightly show featuring scantily clad 'ladies' taking on more conservatively dressed blokes. Bet you can't guess who wins! As long as you can look beyond the plaster and the plastic, it's a true spectacle, but once you've been inside one casino, you've been in them all. It's the same games, the same slot machines, I mean, who's looking at the hieroglyphs when wasting a few dollars?
The one stand out for me was the Miracle Mile mall. It claims to be a mile and a half of shops, restaurants, takeaways etc, but it's the central part of the mall that impressed me. Made to look like a pueblo, it even has a fake sky and atmospheric lighting. The air conditioning gives it away, however.
Fremont Street is worth a visit. Some of the old neon signs have been preserved for posterity, and there's more of a feel of Blackpool and the amusement arcades to this part of Vegas. It is also cheaper than The Strip, or it seemed to be.
We made two trips out of town. The first was to the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead was created to provide water, not just for Nevada, but for the surrounding states. As for size, it makes Rutland Water look like a puddle. Having said that, the water supply is beginning to run out. It is estimated that Vegas will have no water supply in as little as 15 years. Before this, power to Vegas would also drop, the dam also acting as a generator. We noticed, looking at some of the islands, and at the coastline just how much of the reservoir has dropped over the years.
Seeing the fountain show at Belaggio's, I felt some disgust towards the tourist industry for wasting such a valuable resource, as amazing as the show was.
We also went to the Grand Canyon. It's a 4½ hour drive from Vegas, but it is well worth the effort. My only regret is that we didn't spend longer there. Seeing it for myself from the South Rim, I wanted to go down there and explore it for myself. One day...
We found a parking area, got out of the car, and was greeted with this view:
It is a truly breathtaking place. There was a path to the visitors centre, about 1.5km in length. I was surprised at how quiet the path was, most people appearing to prefer the shuttle buses or their own transport. After so long in the car, I was relieved to stretch my legs! As well as the stunning views of the canyon, we also saw some of the wildlife. The highlight was the mule deers; a large male was chillaxing in the scrub while his female companion grazed on the greenery. No comment...
Vegas is all about money. Gambling, eating, drinking, shopping and shows. For someone who likes to explore places, it was easily covered in just a couple of days. I won't rule out going back, but I feel as though I've done it. But don't let me put you off going, it's a place you have to experience yourself, and I know so many people who can go back there time and time again. I'm not one of them.
* * *
AIR CANADA - NEVER AGAIN....
Before this trip, I have always wanted to go to Canada. I've never really had any preference where. The rugged, desolate landscapes when flying over Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have been intriguing, and I've wondered what the cities, such as Vancouver or Toronto, would be like. Would they be more like the US, or would they retain any 'Britishness'. However, if I never see Canada again, I won't be too unhappy.
Whilst not a regular traveller, like the hubby, I have been about a fair bit. I've made use of connecting flights before now. In all my time travelling, I have never missed a connection, or had a flight cancelled. One would be disappointing. But to have it happen twice, on the same holiday, is scandalous. The main problem seems to be the eagerness of US airports to close as soon as the weather becomes a bit inclement. Bearing in mind Boston gets significant snow fall, I wonder how anyone ever manages to fly out during the winter....
The upshot of our misfortune is that I have been to Canada; not just technically due to flying into an airport. We spent around 5 hours in Montreal, and 3 hours in Halifax. What were my impressions? How the feck do I know, it was the middle of the fecking night.
 |
| Montreal - it's lovely, honest |
* * *
BOSTON - MORE THAN A FEELING
I have made no secret of it; I love Boston. I went there in 2003, and had a great time. It's a walker friendly city, and so there is lot to see, and lots of places to explore. It was so cold and windy on our last visit that we still had lots to see and do.
I was really excited when I booked a whale watching trip. I would rather go and watch them in their natural environment, not cooped up in some glorified wet circus. If a whale is going to leap out of the water, it's going to do so because it wants to, and not for some reward and applause. Although I got the feeling on the boat that had a whale flipped out of the ocean, most of the passengers would have done so. As it was, the whales were being incredibly shy. The boat travelled for ages until two humpbacks were spotted; a mother and calf. We only really saw them when they came up for air, but rather than being disappointed, I had the smug, self-satisfaction of knowing no whales were harmed during the trip.
 |
| It's a whale - honest |
Georges Island houses Fort Warren. No longer in use, it's a great place to explore, with loads of nooks and crannies, and nothing to stop you from investigating. Except the dark. Torchless, we couldn't go too far into the ramparts. Although the highlight, for me, was the cricket lessons taking place on the field. Being taught by an American who had taken the trouble to dress in whites for the occasion, it was amusing to see that he failed to bowl a single ball at his tutees that wasn't a no ball. I say bowl; the arm went above the head, unfortunately it didn't stop him chucking. And the least said about how he held a bat, and the appropriate stance, the better. I know that baseball can be technical, but at least I have a better idea on how to bat and pitch....
 |
| How not to play cricket |
When we decided to go back to Boston, I managed to get us tickets for Fenway Park. My baseball knowledge is limited, but even I know it's one of the few remaining old school stadia, and I am well aware that the Red Sox have a lot of history. I wanted to get a feel of the pre-match atmosphere, so we went about an hour before the game started. The area around Fenway Park houses many bars and restaurants, as well as stalls selling a wide variety of food and drink. The area was full of people, it reminded me of my trips to Wembley. Inside the stadium, things were just as busy, if not more. My football team has asked, at Fans Consultative Committee meetings, how can they get more people into the ground before kick off. It's not rocket science. Although I was surprised at just how expensive food and drink were, the number of kiosks, and the wide variety of food and drink on offer meant that there would be something to suit everybody's moods and tastes. On top of this, there are kiosks selling official merchandise, saving trips to the store where queues seemed to be longer. If only Leicester City were willing to take such a view....
I was am easily amused, and the Hammond organ version of "Crazy in Love" playing when I first walked out of the concourse had me in stitches. I hadn't really read up a lot on the rules of the game, but picked up a fair bit during the game. There were some things that confused me, such as being able to be struck out on the first two foul balls, but not the third, but it didn't detract from the game. My other concern was how much TV would affect the game, but to be honest the time taken for the teams to change at the end of an innings was quicker than I expected. However, substitutions were a long, protracted affair. It's apparently not just a case of taking one player off and replacing him. Just don't ask me what was going on!!
The other noticeable thing was that people drifted in to watch the game, some missing the first 3 innings! For me personally, I hate to miss any of the action; the nearest I can equate it to is watching an entire County Championship or Test Match. Even so, I would still be there for the start, and would still be there at stumps. :-/ For the record, the Sox were walloped 9-1 by the Cleveland Indians.
 |
| Matchday security |
* * *
VEGAS BABY
Before I start on my Vegas experience, I want to state that I enjoyed Vegas. I just wouldn't rush to go back. I feel I've done it.
Las Vegas consists of The Strip, several miles of hotel resorts based on numerous themes, some with their own shopping malls, and Fremont Street, where it all began. And that's pretty much it. It's not like there's anything to see or do in between the two. The bus is recommended if you want to see Fremont Street, not so much for the distance, but because of the heat, and the fact that some of the areas in between don't look too inviting. Away from the glitz and glamour of the strip are houses bordering on the shanty town style. Most appear to be derelict. I could be doing the area a disservice, I just wouldn't want to take the risk.
The Strip is big, brash and garish. Each hotel has a theme, some an accompanying show. Treasure Island, with it's pirate theme, has a free trice nightly show featuring scantily clad 'ladies' taking on more conservatively dressed blokes. Bet you can't guess who wins! As long as you can look beyond the plaster and the plastic, it's a true spectacle, but once you've been inside one casino, you've been in them all. It's the same games, the same slot machines, I mean, who's looking at the hieroglyphs when wasting a few dollars?
The one stand out for me was the Miracle Mile mall. It claims to be a mile and a half of shops, restaurants, takeaways etc, but it's the central part of the mall that impressed me. Made to look like a pueblo, it even has a fake sky and atmospheric lighting. The air conditioning gives it away, however.
Fremont Street is worth a visit. Some of the old neon signs have been preserved for posterity, and there's more of a feel of Blackpool and the amusement arcades to this part of Vegas. It is also cheaper than The Strip, or it seemed to be.
We made two trips out of town. The first was to the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead was created to provide water, not just for Nevada, but for the surrounding states. As for size, it makes Rutland Water look like a puddle. Having said that, the water supply is beginning to run out. It is estimated that Vegas will have no water supply in as little as 15 years. Before this, power to Vegas would also drop, the dam also acting as a generator. We noticed, looking at some of the islands, and at the coastline just how much of the reservoir has dropped over the years.
 |
| Example of how much the water level has dropped since Lake Mead was created by damming the Colorado River |
 |
| The road used to run alongside the shoreline of Lake Mead |
Seeing the fountain show at Belaggio's, I felt some disgust towards the tourist industry for wasting such a valuable resource, as amazing as the show was.
We also went to the Grand Canyon. It's a 4½ hour drive from Vegas, but it is well worth the effort. My only regret is that we didn't spend longer there. Seeing it for myself from the South Rim, I wanted to go down there and explore it for myself. One day...
We found a parking area, got out of the car, and was greeted with this view:
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| After travelling for many months, through forests, plains, prairies, mountains and desert, the first pioneers to stumble across the Grand Canyon must have thought "bugger". |
It is a truly breathtaking place. There was a path to the visitors centre, about 1.5km in length. I was surprised at how quiet the path was, most people appearing to prefer the shuttle buses or their own transport. After so long in the car, I was relieved to stretch my legs! As well as the stunning views of the canyon, we also saw some of the wildlife. The highlight was the mule deers; a large male was chillaxing in the scrub while his female companion grazed on the greenery. No comment...
Vegas is all about money. Gambling, eating, drinking, shopping and shows. For someone who likes to explore places, it was easily covered in just a couple of days. I won't rule out going back, but I feel as though I've done it. But don't let me put you off going, it's a place you have to experience yourself, and I know so many people who can go back there time and time again. I'm not one of them.
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