The Boy and The Coconut Tree

Today is the Grand National , one of the most famous horse races in the world. I have probably watched it every year, especially during my childhood as my grandfather loved horse racing.  I have sometimes placed a bet but though I watch it, I don't know a thing about horses or the grass or the racecourse (well I know it is near Liverpool) so I choose my horses based on the numbers I choose for the lottery and the colours.  I think most people do the same apart from serious gamblers who really follow the horses and know their speed, the weight of the teeny tiny jockeys etc. I am an amateur and have been in a betting shop about 3 times in my adult life (I went in more as a child with my grandfather). I was banned from a betting shop when I was a child (or so the story goes) because I turned off all the televisions when my grandad was in there placing a bet.  I am sure in 1973 it was illegal for me to be in there in the first place!? One of the horses I've bet on, "No ...

Another week has flown by and what a week. It has been a sad week for some. A close friend lost his mum this week. Something none of us can even begin to understand until we go through it ourselves. My thoughts are with him and hopefully I can be a supportive friend when he returns and tries to get back to normal life. Though I personally cannot imagine life without my mum. The weather was crazy all week and the snow came and went, the ice came and went and the trains continued to be a farce, delays, cancellations and overcrowded trains. South Eastern trains should be particularly ashamed of themselves. They ran a terrible service in and out of London Bridge all week and the confusion and overcrowding in that station was some of the worst I've ever experienced in London. The excuses ranged from " slippy tracks " , " bad rail condition s", " staff shortage s" and " severe weather " now having lived in North America, severe weather is not 1 i...