The Dorset Knob

Aptoblique – A newly invented word, now try to use it!

Knobby — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:51:26 +0000

A chap called David Bolton has created a new word “aptoblique”. He has decided it means “to move vertically or horizontally but not diagonally”. David explains how he came up with aptoblique in his blog http://davidbolton.blogspot.com/.

Your challenge should you choose to accept it is to use “aptoblique” in a sentence. Why not post any you come up with as a comment to this message.

Jack Hargreaves demonstrates putting a ship in a bottle (YouTube video clip)

Knobby — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:32:25 +0000

I thought I would share this clip I came across of veteran broadcaster Jack Hargreaves demonstrating how to put a ship in a bottle on the old Southern Television children’s TV show “How”.

If you carry on watching past the Jack Hargreaves bit fellow presenter Fred Dinenage makes a fool of himself trying to use a potters wheel.

There is a rather nice obituary for Jack Hargreaves who died in 1994 at The Independent.

The Lost Pubs Project

Knobby — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:43:45 +0000

I came across The Lost Pubs Project via a re-tweet on Twitter.

Basically it does exactly what the title suggests, a record of pubs, inns and hotels that have closed over the years listed by town/village. It’s an interesting site for those who remember pubs that are no longer with us.

Not the prettiest web site, but a worthy project that I have bookmarked. I look forward to seeing how it develops.

Ploughman’s Lunch at The George Inn, Chideock

Knobby — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:27:37 +0000

I called into The George Inn at Chideock at lunchtime earlier this week. Being peckish I ordered a ploughman’s lunch to have with my pint of beer.

I’m not a great fan of Palmers beer, there are plenty of other local brews I’d rather have, but there are a couple of Palmers pubs I visit that do pretty passable pints of Copper bitter. Perhaps I caught The George, a tied Palmers pub, on a bad day but I wasn’t impressed with my pint there.

My ploughman’s arrived on a chunk of wood rather than a plate! Three cheeses, cheddar, a red coloured cheese and a blue cheese that I would guess was stilton, this being a Dorset pub I was half hoping for Blue Vinny. This was accompanied by a generous portion of bread, small pots of pickle and a frilly but fairly tasteless salad which included some very small pickled onions.

There were also caramelised walnuts as mentioned on The George Inn’s menu. They were very crunchy and very sweet. Walnuts on their own might have been an interesting addition but these seemed out of place and a distraction.

At £7.95 an ok ploughman’s lunch pretentiously presented.

Morrisons being economical?

Knobby — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:24:32 +0000

A couple of days before Christmas I dropped into Morrisons. Among my purchases were their 100g Christmas puddings which They had on offer “buy one at 85p and get two more free”, that works out at the equivalent of 28.33p each.

I went in there again today and now the same puddings are individually priced “28p save 57p”. Ok you don’t have to have three to get the offer but I think this is bending the facts rather!

Lidl Blue Eclipse Coffee – Why the change?

Knobby — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:16:00 +0000

Some time back I noticed Lidl were selling a new own brand instant coffee “Monte Santos – 100% Arabica” in 200g jars. It was fairly cheap so I bought one. I’ve been buying it regularly ever since.

On Christmas Eve I nipped into Lidl and spotted that there was a different coffee, “Blue Eclipse – 100% Arabica”, in place of the “Monte Santos”. It was about the same price, quite possibly the same coffee in a different shaped jar and with a new name? Why bother changing?

X Factor – Does Johnny Robinson look like Wilfred Brambell?

Knobby — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:27:23 +0000

Watching X Factor (yes I know) last night I couldn’t help thinking contestant Johnny Robinson bears a resemblance to the late actor Wilfred Brambell, star of the classic BBC comedy Steptoe and Son. Take a look below and see what you think.

Johnny Robinson

Wilfred Brambell

Tesco Garlic & Herb Chicken Wrap

Knobby — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:32:35 +0000

It was lunchtime and my belly was rumbling as I drove past Tesco earlier today so I pulled in to grab a sandwich.

Tesco Garlic & Herb Chicken

Perusing the chilled cabinet that held a varied array of sandwiches I spotted a cardboard pack that declared it contained a Tesco Garlic & Herb Chicken Wrap. Mmm I thought that sounds tasty and grabbed one and headed for the checkout.

Sadly when I got back to the car eager to devour my purchase I found myself disappointed. I couldn’t taste any trace of garlic, nor was there any hint of anything tasting remotely of herbs. In my bland wrap there was just fairly tasteless chicken in a completely nondescript dressing.

Oh well £2.20 wasted and a lesson learnt. I’ll not be fooled by over optimistic Tesco descriptions in a hurry again.

The Western Gazette and The Rampisham Transmitter

Knobby — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:13:35 +0000

The Rampisham radio mast closure story makes the pages of the Western Gazette this week, but they seem to think it’s a television transmitter! Fairly typical of the standard of journalism in some local papers I’m afraid.

They also manage to somehow link the story to The Dorset Broadcasting Action Groups campaign for a BBC Radio Dorset. I’m struggling to see how the closure of a huge short wave transmitting station broadcasting internationally can be linked to setting up a local FM station.

Rampisham transmitter site to close by Christmas

Knobby — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:16:43 +0000

BBC World Service transmitter site at Rampisham will close with the loss of 19 jobs according to BECTU trade union web site. The site is run by Babcock Engineering.

Rampisham Transmitter Station