Apologies for such a prolonged absence. It’s almost as if my ‘artistic licence’ had been revoked because of covid or perhaps a stray comment on social media! People are sooo sensitive these days! But no, I still have full possession of my licence, having been basically lazy for a while. I still have first class authorisation for all writing, video and oral artistry!

So it’s on with the flim flam!

But first, Jean has reminded me that my artistic licence is only valid on the very strict condition that I don’t discuss certain subjects! Some are patently sensible, like religion, which I would obviously never write about, as it’s a personal thing. Then, apparently, I have been advised (by Jean, again) to not comment on music any more, even though there’s no accounting for some people’s taste, folks! But, I can’t even talk about the subject of drivers who reverse-park cars!

For goodness sake, I am going to break that rule! Just why do people reverse-park!? I have heard all sorts of reasons, including escaping an impending terrorist attack and hence the ability to get ‘away’ quick. Well, I honestly and sincerely hope the terrorists don’t attack whilst they are actually slowly and annoyingly reverse parking!? Surely reversing into a small space is more difficult than reversing out into a big open one!

I agree with my American friends, forward parking rules. End of story!

What’s been going on in Onein300 land?

I have been busy with the #United2Endmnd campaign, as some of you may have seen. But outside of this we have just been living with the pandemic, ie getting on with life! We did take the May 17th reduction in restrictions here in the UK (along with 2 jabs under our skin) as an excuse to visit London for a couple of days on two recent occasions. It was great, no grockles (tourists) and we enjoyed calm shopping and restaurants, all within current regulations, of course. We must not let disability get in the way of life. 

In fact, London is surprisingly well set up for the disabled traveller, and with only minor planning we can do nearly everything that I used to. Yes, the underground (tube) is totally off limits really, but the good old London cabs are quite unique, for many world cities, in actually being very cripple friendly! The cab drivers are always friendly, there’s plenty of space for my travelscoot and they understand my voice!

“Watcha Geezer, my old mukka!” 

“Yes Lee, just jump in!”

Although this sign was concerning, only visible once we had got in a lift to visit the basement in one store!

We decided to the visit the Science Museum located in our old University haunt of South Kensington. I booked online the night before because visitors are batched together with timely gaps due to the covid restrictions. We drove from the hotel to a suitable, and very luckily empty disabled parking spot outside the museum and I scootered up the road when suddenly we noticed a gigantic and long weaving queue into said building!

Bugger, I thought, we are absolutely not waiting in that. We were a few minutes late and so were worried about not being able to get in. Feeling concerned, Jean asked a waiting awfully erudite senior attendant, along with her corgis, about the ‘precise nature of this rather and dreadfully inconvenient, strange queueing type thing!’ Surprisingly, the well turned out lady, accompanied by some rather burly men, informed us that it was actually NOT for the museum but for the covid vaccination centre which also happened to be in the museum and ‘one’ was waiting for her granddaughter to get jabbed!

After a jolly good laugh with Lizzie, we by-passed and entered the museum at a pace.

If you haven’t ventured to the Science Museum in London, you absolutely should. It is one of the must see museums, anywhere, globally. Normally infested by information hungry and studious school children (now more often known as covid swarms), it is a place of true wonders. I absolutely implore you all to take your children and grandchildren there. If you are childless, take any stray child! The more we get the young hooked on the wonder of science, and technical challenge, the better.

For the disabled visitor and family, the museum provides hassle free enjoyment. With it’s wide open spaces, and many lifts, I found that any gormless able bodied people dispersed surprisingly quickly as I approached on my scooter! Move it or lose it! 5.12mph can be horrific to fully experience on the shins!

I recall the museum, I believe back in the 1990s, once hosted a sleep over event for children. Bring your sleeping bags and after a great tour, camp with your picnic boxes and spend the night amongst awe and wonder. One of the most sought after spots for sleeping near was this, Apollo 10’s command module.

Standing next to this phenomenal craft brought back memories of once witnessing a space shuttle launch up close in Florida. I know it’s often said, you have to be there to truly experience some things in life, and a shuttle launch with its 3 human beings sitting on top of over a million pounds of explosives is one such event. How can I describe it? Well, just recently during a meeting I attended online, the word awesome was uttered. A colleague then stated how a shuttle launch can be described as such, and he is so right.

Awesome!

But I would equally argue that this is also awesome to see, up close. It is Crick and Watson’s DNA Double Helix model. Two geniuses that visualised and postulated the actual structure of DNA, the foundations for future medical science and beyond.

Talking of genius, I hear you say, where’s Lord Lee Bragg and what is he up to currently?

Well he has been in and out of trouble, as you would guess, during the pandemic with all sorts of money making ideas and schemes. At the moment he is working on an astounding new car brand concept, the Braggerati!

He wants to bring the true artistry of beautiful, exotic Italian flowing design to the ever growing, but largely horrifically bland (the tofu of the motor world?) looking, electric car world. But like tofu, the rather unemotional technology can indeed be sparked into life with just a touch of Lord Bragg’s unique wizardry! He particularly wishes to add to the everyday experience of car ownership, the quintessential English romance of 1970s driving.

As such, there will be pre-programmed into the planned operating software, completely random failures. These will occur at the most utterly inconvenient times and include door mirrors falling off and headlights failing at midnight on a foggy night, on a blind bend near a cliff. 10 such failures are included in the basic price.

What a guy!

Bringing the romance back to modern driving.

His next project?

He is working on a series of Mexican restaurants, but has had a serious knock back when health and safety banned him from serving his spicy, but slightly too hot, dips. So he is now running “Bring your own guacamole evenings”.

Back soon readers!