Like many archives like this a lot of the photos are pretty uninteresting to anyone else. Plus the other problem...
Where the heck were they taken!! It's easy to remember who the people are in them. But so many I have no idea where or when they were taken.
This couple of scans are places and events I do remember! It's a bit lazy but I have scanned three together! !
First up. A trio of Lisbon photos.
Secondly, a mixed bag from Rome (top), Murcia, (bottom left) Madonna in procession around the city at Easter and bottom right, me and Andrew Pratt after the National Rally.
Lastly a picture of my TDM850 outside the old house in Hythe.
Those of us born before the digital revolution must have one - a shoebox archive.
This one is from way back in 1990! The campsite is in Tarifa which can claim to the be the southern most tip of Europe in the west of the continent.
From the beach you can clearly see the coast of Africa.
Behind the Cade is Audrey's XJ900. The bike we took across to Morocco later that week. It was so hot down there that I had problems with the clutch as the grease on the lever dried out as it was "cold weather" rated and 40ºC temperatures in the day simply reduced it to dust.
In Malaga on the way home it rained a little and turned the highway into an ice rink - water on months of rubber.......
As you are braking and sliding with both wheels locked just stopping short of the car in front and then hear the car behind sliding faster than you and then seeing it go past makes you wonder about life.....
The Venetian fete is bi-annual in Hythe and uses the Royal Military Canal as the base for a series of free concerts and a river pageant on rafts.
The third evening was Abbalicious, an ABBA tribute group but there must have been a falling out as only AA were onstage. What happened to BB we have no idea.
When we arrived with Reggie there was plenty of free parking in Waitrose and we walked along just as they came on stage.
After a few numbers we set off for a walk around over the bridges that brought us back stage. My arm got tired waiting for them to turn around and not face front only.
It kicks off again tonight and Arsenal has the inglorious task of being the first new season to kick off on a Friday evening. I suppose it means we can have football and a free weekend.
Won 4-3. Supporting Arsenal isn't the easy job it might be if you have a tame billionaire from Russia or a middle east oil state that spends money as though it is going out of fashion.
Mr Wenger decided that the potent striker Vardy for Leicester wasn't a threat and chose to play a rookie centre back and no other recognised central defenders. That proved wrong. As Vardy scored twice.
In the end what he will call "mental strength" seemed to work and we came from 2-3 to 4-3 in a two minute spell in the last ten minutes of the game.
At least we won it. Usually, we lose or at best get a draw to start the season.
Another chance to go to Wembley Stadium to watch Arsenal. Once again against Chelsea.
Arsenal were in this traditional fixture as Cup Winners and Chelsea as League Champions. Back in May Arsenal had beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup Final also at Wembley Stadium. This stopped them wining the "Double" of League and Cup in one season.
Another warm sunny day when we were glad to be in the upper tier and under cover rather than being burned to a crisp in the sun. The view is pretty good from all around the stadium.
Before the game there was the usual tedious build up but this was relieved by the Choir for Grenfell coming to sing after the minutes silence for those that died in the terrible tower block fire some weeks ago. The Choir and celebs have made a charity record to raise money for the families that lost everything. I took a short video of it.
The game was pretty even although statistics will show that the Arsenal had more possession, 54% to 46%, more attempts on goal and fewer disciplinary cards. Chelsea getting another red card for a reckless tackle. More stupid than malicious.
Both sides seemed to be saving players for the start of the Premier League this coming weekend. But did give new signings a start.
In the end Arsenal won their 9th successive game at Wembley. After finishing 1-1 they won the penalty shootout 4-1.
The football season seems to come a little earlier every year, or so it seems.
Locally Invicta kicked off their pre-season with a game against local rivals Hythe Town. This ought to be a dilemma for me as I live in Hythe, actually less than a mile from Town's ground at Reachfields. However, I have never been.
When I moved here from Bedfordshire in 1999 my first taste of local non-league football was at Folkestone Invicta as one of the director's at Claire's work was also a director of the football club and we went as her company was sponsoring a game. And I have been going ever since. Albeit only a couple of games a yar.
Yesterday was far too hot for running about in the sun, but perfect for sitting under cover in the main stand. A tea to start with and a bottle of water when it got too hot.
In the end Invicta ran out 4-1 winners with Hythe scoring their consolation in the 90th (and final) minute.
There are another six of so pre-season games to play before the league kicks off in August.
Invicta in amber and black
The next game for me might well be the other local derby at home to Dover Athletic. Dover are a couple of rungs up the pyramid and currently play in the 5th tier. Just one below the Football League.
As a senior citizen nowadays one of the perks is a reduced price ticket and so I bought a season ticket. Good value at £110 for an entire season.
