FILM - UNSTOPPABLE

Just been to see the preview of this film tonight, which I would rate as a good watch, on a rainy blustery night.

The film is essentially about a runaway train. and stars Denzel Washington, and Chris Pine. 
The subject matter doesn't sound particularly enthralling but it kept us on the edge of our seat for around 90 minutes.
Lots of action from the beginning but eventually has a satisfactory outcome.The likelihood of various towns and cities being wiped out is always present, as the freight train hurtles along minus its driver at speeds in excess of 70 mph.
The trains cargo consists of particularly nasty chemicals and petrol, which guarantee an unpleasant outcome if the train cannot be stopped..
Go and see it. It's probably more of a film for the lads, but my other half said she enjoyed it...probably due to seeing Chris Pine's six pack torso at the start of the film!
Scored at 7/10

UK Border Agency Ensign

Since the formation of the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) Customs Cutters have flown the UKBA Ensign

http://www.flags.net/UNKG10.htm  

This ensign has replaced the ensign which was previoulsy flown by UK Customs Cutters prior to the changes which took place in 2005 when the UKBA was formed.

Source:World Flag Database,

Customs Badges: HMCE Badges

Customs Badges: HMCE Badges: "HMCE BadgesSpecial offer for the next 10 days Purchase 1 badge and get a second badge for only £10.00 (I will send you a Paypal invoice for ..."

Customs Badges: Customs headwear (caps & Hats)

New blog with pictures of caps worn by Officers of HM Customs & Excise

Customs Badges: Customs headwear (caps & Hats): "HM Customs & Excise - Chief Preventive Officer Cap Have a read at http://www.hm-waterguard.org.uk/Uniform.htm which gives more informatio..."

Customs headwear (caps & Hats)

HM Customs & Excise - Chief Preventive Officer Cap

Have a read at http://www.hm-waterguard.org.uk/Uniform.htm which gives more information on the Uniforms and caps worn by Officers of HM Customs and Excise.

HM Customs & Excise - Preventive Officer Cap

This style of cap bearing the Queens Crown essentially stayed the same until the demise of HMC&E, when many staff transferred over to the newly formed United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), and those that remained were merged with HM Inland Revenue to form HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)


Keeping watching this page as I intend to add more pictures of caps!

HMCE Badges

Special offer for the next 10 days

Purchase 1 badge and get a second badge for only £10.00 (I will send you a Paypal invoice for £10.00 for the second badge after you purchase badge # 1)

Visit www.hmce-badges.co.uk

Grandchildren

Hectic Day

Just got to the end of a hectic day looking after my 2 x 5 year olds G/c.

Due to unavoidable circumstances when G/c #3 was taken into hospital last night with breathing difficulties, and suspected Chicken Pox (CP), I got the job of amusing the twins.

It seems that a certain type of CP can cause chest infections as well as the usual spots. Anyway he and his Mum were discharged today, since the hospital didn't want them around with the possibility of spreading C/P to other kids.

So, back to today...

0905 - twins dropped off at our house by their Dad

0905 - 1100 - playing board game and a spelling game

1100 - 1300 - off to an old quarry (now a visitor centre) for games on the grass (hide the dinosaur), and a walk

1300 - 1500 - visited an old tramway museum, where we walked (in the rain at times) and had rides on an old Leeds Tram from the 1930's

1500 - 1600 - drove back home via the shop to buy food

1600 - 1630 - cooked dinner for the twins (plently of protein, fruit and milk)

1630 - my wife came home early from work. 

She said she could tell I was exhausted when she spoke to me on the 'phone. She took over and watched a video with the twins (Wall-E)

1830 - twins went home to see Mum and Dad

1900 - me feeling rung out + headache

Never mind

All good fun and what Grandparents do...eh?

Apple Cider Vinegar

Health Benefits - fact or Fiction?

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar made by the fermentation of apple cider. During this process, sugar in the apple cider is broken down by bacteria and yeast into alcohol and then into vinegar. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid (like other types of vinegar) and some lactic, citric and malic acids.

Diabetes

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of apple cider vinegar’s possible health benefits is its effect on blood glucose levels. Several small studies suggest that vinegar (both apple cider vinegar and other types) may help to lower glucose levels.

Weight Loss

Apple cider vinegar has become popular as a “fat-burner” and as a natural appetite suppressant. In fact, there’s even an apple cider vinegar diet, which involves taking one to three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or apple cider vinegar pills before each meal. 

The earliest proponent of apple cider vinegar for weight loss was Jarvis, who wrote that people who consumed apple cider vinegar regularly would burn fat instead of store it. Although some say that the pectin, enzymes, vitamins, or potassium may help with weight loss, there is no reliable research showing that either apple cider vinegar or the combination of apple cider vinegar, kelp, vitamin B6 and lecithin can influence metabolic rate or the help us “burn fat” faster than we normally would.

High Cholesterol
A 2006 study found that rats fed acetic acid (the main ingredient in vinegar) had significantly lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Large, human trials are needed to see if the same results occur in humans.

Acid RefluxApple cider vinegar in water is a popular home remedy for acid reflux. It's based on a theory by some alternative medicine practitioners that heartburn and reflux are actually symptoms of insufficient stomach acid caused by aging, poor diet or overusing antacids or other medications. Alternative practitioners usually rely on laboratories that conduct alternative tests to assess stomach acidity prior to any treatment. Critics say that insufficient stomach acid, or hypochlorhydria, isn’t a common condition and that it isn’t a known cause of acid reflux or heartburn.

So let's have some comments from users of this product. I really would like to know what you think?

Challenge Coins

Quote from Wikepedia

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. They are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin 

So are these coins worth collecting - or just something pretty to line your shelf? 

Personally I have never been given one of these coins as the tradition does not appear to have spread to the UK (unfortunately). However, there appears to be thousands out there and available to collect.

Shown below are a two examples which tie in to some extent with my interests (collecting Customs memorabilia).

Send me your thoughts on this subject. Do you like them, do you own any, or have you been given one officially?

Memorabilia

Prior to to the beginning of the new department (HM Revenue & Customs) the former department HM Customs & Excise tried to engage with the public by attending trade shows and events where HMC&E could interact with interested persons to explain what its objectives were.

Apart from its tax collecting activities in the areas of Value Added Tax (VAT) and and Excise duties levied on tobacco goods, hydrocarbon oil etc, HMC&E also had the job of of preventing the illegal importation of drugs. This job was largely carried out by uniformed staff staff at airports and seaports.

The rank structure could generally be determined  by the number of gold rings an Officer wore on his jacket sleeves. Have a look at this website which illustrates this reasonably well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Customs_and_Excise 

Example of a freebie given away to "Joe Public"

Opposite side of mug giving the telephone number of the Drug Smuggling Action Line

Other Freebies

Swordstick

Have a look at this picture.

What is it?

Well most would probably say it's a walking stick which is true enough if you look at the style and the way it has been made.

The truth is, that this particular item is known as a "Tuckstick", and would have been used many moons ago by a Customs Officer when going about his duties and looking for contraband (smuggled or illicit goods).

The long blade with a sharp point would be pushed into a cotton bale, or into an oil drum looking for something hidden in the bale or a false bottom in the oil drum.

Interestingly these items were manufactured in the United Kingdom by Robert Mole, Birmingham in the 19th Century. 
Have a look at this website which lists one of these items which is now sold.

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antiques/view/victorian_mole_sword_stick/pd011a160#imageitempic

Another interesting website worth a look is:

http://www.hm-waterguard.org.uk/Tools%20&%20Equipment.htm#TUCKSTICK

American Silver Eagles

1Oz Fine Silver - One Dollar - 1 Troy Ounce

So, here we have a picture of an American Silver Eagle dated 1999, which has been nicely handpainted by the look of it, to show off Liberty at her best, along with the rising sun.

But the question is, are they worth collecting in these uncertain economic times? Or are they just something nice to look at occasionally, and then put them back in the drawer?

Refurbishing an old Computer Chair!

 NewI have owned an old computer chair for the last 20+ years which had almost got to the end of its useful life because the cover was torn and very tatty.

Also my wife was starting to make those wifely noises suggesting I should start thinking about a visit to the local tip (refuse site), so...not wishing to waste money I suggested we combine our expertise...first of all by undoing 4 x bolts on the underside of the seat pad and then me poking out the staples which attached the old fabric using a convenient pointy thing..

 

 and my helper removing about 200 staples and the remaining bits of old fabric.

Soon after (about 2 x hours) which involved us both removing sweatshirts because of heat which we had generated we were ready to try a new piece of fabric. A rather jaunty stripey number. The fabric was placed upside down along with the upturned seat pad. This was centred as best we could.and the stapling process started. 

First the fabric on the sides was pulled tight and stapled, and then the front and back

The almost finished and recovered seat now required trimming..

Finally...the finished seatpad. (Back support done in the same way).

...and the finished chair

Police Memorabilia Collectors and Law Enforcement Collectables: Police Collectables for sale in Canada

forcementPolice Memorabilia Collectors and Law Enforcement Collectables: Police Collectables for sale in Canada

This is an interesting Law Enforcement site and worth a look!

UK Customs Badges and Memorabila

d Well I'm now inspired once again to get going with all things "Customs" related and put pen to paper, or rather text to the blog. I've been meaning for some time now to start blogging so this is my first attempt.

I have collected Customs related memorabilia for some years now. This includes badges. patches, uniforms, hi-viz jackets and so on.

Most of my collection relates to the now defunct HM Customs & Excise, whose activities have been taken over by HM Revenue & Customs or passed to the relatively newly formed UK Border Agency http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ or UKBA for short.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

For some time I have been aware of an excellent Australian website which is the brainchild of John de Belle who from recollection works for the Australian Customs & Border Protection Service.

The site has recently been re-vamped and is well worth a look http://www.customscollector.com/default.htm

Eventually as I become more familar with "Blogger" I hope to be able to share some pictures of my own collection. I also have my own website at http://www.hmce-badges.co.uk/ which collectors can peruse. I have some examples of cap badges from the past, which have been faithfully reproduced to reflect the original cap badges that were worn by the various grades of Officers of HM Customs & Excise